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Uefa considers streaming service

Uefa is looking at developing its own streaming service to show Champions League games as the TV sports rights boom shows signs of flagging. Broadcasters such as Sky are increasingly unwilling to spend even bigger sums as it becomes harder to push costs on to financially stretched viewers. Even big tech groups like Amazon, which have joined the bidding, are not prepared to fork out more.

Enders Analysis, a media analysis group, said in a report last month that the 'TV rights boom [in football] is ending. Subscriber growth has slowed or reversed, and retail prices are subject to downward pressure.'

A streaming service could be provided by expanding the UefaTV online site. Such a move would represent a radical shift from the current model of selling screening rights to traditional broadcasters in deals worth €3.25bn to Uefa worldwide. Uefa would probably start by experimenting in a few markets outside Europe where broadcasting deals are worth no more than €5m - €10m a year.

Champions League revenues are of crucial importance to top European clubs, particularly to those outside the markets with big domestic television rights deals, notably England and Spain. Such revenues are, for example, very important to Italian clubs and they are mainly generated from broadcasting. TV rights in Italy are relatively low and Juventus has earned more from the Champions League in the last five years than any other European club.

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