UEFA completes 2006-09 CL sales in major markets

Adjust font size:

The broadcasting rights sales process, conducted by UEFA’s marketing arm TEAM Marketing, has already been completed in all the major European markets. In the major TV markets new partners joining the Champions League family are Italian state broadcaster RAI and Spanish commercial channel Antena 3. After a competitive bidding process, Antena 3 secured the exclusive rights to show the first choice match on Tuesday and the non-exclusive rights to show the final and Wednesday night highlights. TVE continues as the free-to-air broadcaster for the UEFA Champions League in Spain until the end of the current 2005/06 season. In July, the pay TV rights were granted to Sogecable, which will show all other live matches, including the final, highlights, delayed matches and the magazine program.

For the first time, broadcasters will offer live internet broadcasting to Champions League fans simultaneously to the traditional free-to- air and pay TV rights. The mainstream broadcaster partners for the 2006-09 period in the major European markets are: United Kingdom • ITV and BSkyB; Italy • RAI (free-to-air), Mediaset (DTT), Sky Italia (DTH); Spain • Antena 3 and Canal ; France • TF1 and Canal ; Germany • Premiere (free-to-air and pay TV); Netherlands • NOS and UPC; Scandinavia • TV3 and Viasat; Greece • ERT and Supersport.

UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson said: “The record sales levels from a very competitive market are extremely gratifying and a clear indication that UEFA’s decision to reduce the competition format two seasons ago has been vindicated, and resulted in a highly-prized value in the commercial marketplace. This also confirms the continued attractiveness of the UEFA Champions League that remains the best club football competition in the world.”