Sir Keir Starmer has stepped directly into the row over the Champions League final's broadcasting arrangements, writing to TNT Sports to demand the broadcaster makes next Saturday's showpiece between Arsenal and Paris St-Germain free to watch in the UK.

In a strongly worded letter to TNT executives, the Prime Minister — himself a declared Arsenal supporter — described himself as "saddened" that the fixture will become the first Champions League final unavailable without a subscription since the competition adopted its current format 34 years ago.

A break with three decades of tradition

Every previous final since 1992 has been available free of charge to UK viewers. The game was shown live on ITV from 1993 — save for the 1994 final on BBC One — before BT Sport won the rights from 2015-16. Even after that switch, BT made the final available via its YouTube channel without a subscription. When Warner Bros Discovery rebranded the service as TNT Sports, free access continued through a Discovery+ account. But Discovery+ has now been replaced by HBO Max, which carries no free tier, meaning fans must pay to watch for the first time.

"The Champions League is the biggest club football competition in the world and rightly means a lot to fans in this country — the home of football," Starmer wrote. "Hard-working people should not have to worry about forking out for a subscription to watch a game of this magnitude."

He was careful to frame his intervention as a matter of principle beyond club allegiance: "I am a firm believer that the final of this competition should remain free to watch, whether Arsenal have made it or not."

TNT's position and the current options

TNT Sports has so far shown no public sign of changing course. In a statement, the broadcaster pointed to the value on offer, saying all three UEFA finals this year are available via an HBO Max subscription from £4.99 for the first month — a service it described as "exceptional value". The company also noted that most Sky customers already receive HBO Max at no additional cost.

The same paywall applied to Aston Villa's Europa League final victory last week, and will cover Wednesday's Conference League final between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano. The noises out of TNT suggest the £4.99 price point is their answer to any accessibility concerns.

There is some consolation for supporters who cannot or will not pay. BBC Radio 5 Live will carry live commentary of all three finals, and highlights of the Champions League showpiece will appear on the BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer fifteen minutes after the trophy is lifted, with television coverage to follow later in the evening.

A wider political and regulatory backdrop

The debate touches on a long-running policy argument. Six years ago, the then-government rejected a House of Lords select committee proposal to add the Champions League final to the list of protected "crown jewels" events — a designation that would have guaranteed free-to-air broadcast. Had that recommendation been adopted, the current situation would not be possible.

From the 2027-28 season, TNT Sports loses its European rights entirely. Paramount+ picks up the Champions League, while the Europa League and Conference League move to Sky Sports. Whether either of those arrangements will include free-to-air provisions remains to be seen.

The timing adds a particular edge to the row. Arsenal were confirmed as Premier League champions for the first time since 2004 earlier this week, meaning the club heads into a Champions League final — their first since 2006 — carrying the title. The market has taken note of the renewed interest in English football, and the question of who gets to watch it is now firmly a matter for Downing Street as much as boardrooms.

  • Final date: Next Saturday — Arsenal vs Paris St-Germain
  • UK viewing options: HBO Max subscription from £4.99; free for most Sky customers with HBO Max
  • Free alternatives: BBC Radio 5 Live (live commentary); BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport (highlights from 15 mins post-trophy lift)

Frequently asked

How can I watch the Champions League final for free in the UK?
You cannot watch it live for free unless you already have Sky and receive HBO Max as part of your package. BBC Radio 5 Live will have live commentary, and highlights will be on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website from fifteen minutes after the trophy is lifted.
How much does it cost to watch the Champions League final on TNT Sports?
You need an HBO Max subscription, which starts at £4.99 for one month. That gives you access to all three UEFA club finals this season, not just the Champions League final.
Why is the Champions League final not free to watch this year?
TNT Sports, which holds the UK rights, has moved its streaming service from Discovery+ to HBO Max. Unlike Discovery+, HBO Max has no free-access tier, making this the first Champions League final unavailable without a paid subscription since the competition began in its current format in 1992.