UEFA is significantly revamping the broadcast rights and matchday calendar for its top European club competitions, including the Champions League, starting with the 2027/28 season.
A major shift will see Champions League matches played on Wednesdays and Thursdays, breaking from the traditional Tuesday and Wednesday schedule. The new format will also introduce an opening ceremony for the Champions League, mirroring major international events like the World Cup and European Championships.
The reigning champion team will host the inaugural match of the season on a Tuesday. This fixture will mark the competition’s kick-off.
Commercial changes include a new “preferred choice” package, granting exclusive broadcast rights to one top Champions League match per matchday. This aims to enhance the value of the broadcast offering.
The tender process for these new audiovisual rights has been launched. Contracts under the new system will have a longer duration, designed to provide increased stability for rights holders.
The new plan involves a simultaneous tender across five major European markets: the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany. UC3, a company recently established by UEFA and the European Club Association (ECA), is managing these rights. International marketing agency Football Partners collaborated with UC3 in announcing these extensive updates.