BBC Sport has secured exclusive free-to-air broadcast rights to the UEFA Women’s Champions League through to 2030 – including the final itself – in a deal set to give another major boost to the profile of the women’s game.
The action kicks off with two unmissable clashes: Manchester United v Paris Saint-Germain on 12 November at 8pm, and Chelsea v FC Barcelona on 20 November at 8pm, both live on BBC TV and iPlayer. Lionesses stars Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Niamh Charles, Keira Walsh, Lauren James and Aggie Beever-Jones are expected to take to the pitch to battle the star-studded Barcelona side led by three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí.
The five-year deal will see BBC Sport deliver coverage of up to seven live matches each season across TV and BBC iPlayer. These matches include the final, which Arsenal won last season – claiming the trophy for the second time in the club’s history and making them the only English team to ever win the tournament, as well as the only Arsenal team of any gender to ever win a Champions League trophy. Other matches will include both legs of one semi-final and four matches from earlier in the competition.
READ MORE: Summer of sport draws 280m social viewers to Crowd Network’s shows
Beyond live match broadcasts, the new deal guarantees fans direct access to the best moments of the UEFA Women’s Champions League across BBC Sport’s digital platforms. From breathtaking goals to last-ditch tackles and game-changing saves, highlight clips will be available each week on BBC Sport’s social media channels including the brand-new BBC Sport Women’s Football TikTok (@BBCWomensFootball).
Coverage will also be fully integrated across the BBC Sport website and app, offering highlights and key moments from every match in the competition, even those not aired on BBC TV. This move marks a major step up for digital coverage, ensuring fans can follow the tournament anytime, anywhere.
BBC Radio 5 Live will also continue to bring live commentary of the biggest games throughout the season.
Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport said: “This is a great moment for women’s football and for BBC Sport. Bringing the UEFA Women’s Champions League to a free-to-air audience is huge, but what makes this truly game-changing is our digital offering. Our multi-platform strategy means fans won’t just watch the biggest games live on TV, they’ll experience the best moments, goals, and highlights across our website, app, and social media platforms. We’re making the competition more accessible, more visible, and more connected than ever before.”
Image courtesy www.arsenal.com
