Not Netflix or Amazon: The TV Channel That Will Air the Champions League Until 2031 for €1.5 Billion
UEFA secures its broadcasting future as Telefónica beats major global platforms
UEFA, led by Aleksander Čeferin, continues its battle against the Super League project—something reflected in the latest sale of broadcasting rights for the Champions League.
In recent hours, Telefónica has secured control of the rights for the 2027–2031 cycle, outbidding competing companies whose names remain undisclosed.
Miguel Ángel Gil, CEO of Atlético de Madrid, recently boasted about the “death” of the Super League, highlighting that one of the successes of UEFA’s collaboration with the clubs is the management of television rights.
He stated:
“The truth is, the Super League is only talked about in Spain because of the influence of Real Madrid and their president as promoters of the idea. Across Europe, it has long been considered a dead project. Proof of this is that the formats, revenue distribution systems, and TV and sponsorship rights for the 2027–31 cycle have been agreed upon between the clubs and UEFA, and they are completely opposite to what the Super League proposed.”
However, despite months of reports suggesting that major global brands such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video were competing for the rights, the final deal went to Telefónica. This means the Champions League will continue to be broadcast on Movistar, after the company paid €1.5 billion.
A Major Monopoly
With this agreement, Movistar becomes the broadcaster for the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League, Youth League, and the UEFA Super Cup.
Any other operator interested in offering matches from these competitions will need to negotiate directly with Telefónica, led by Marc Murtra—further consolidating the company’s dominance in Spanish football broadcasting.
