This is a list of television broadcasters which provide coverage of the UEFA Champions League, European football's top level continental competition.
The competition attracts a huge television audience, not just in Europe, but throughout the world. The 2006 Final, FC Barcelona versus Arsenal, attracted the 4th biggest global TV audience for a sports event in that year, averaging 86 million viewers (the total audience, 209 million, was actually the 3rd highest of 2006, only behind the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final (603 million) and the Opening Ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games (249 million).[1]
[edit] Format of Rights Packages
Rights to show the UEFA Champions League are awarded directly by UEFA to broadcasters on a territory-by-territory (country-by-country) basis, and in all territories a pay television broadcaster holds the majority, if not all, the rights. In territories which are members of the European Union, at least one match every Matchday (a Matchday comprising both the Tuesday and Wednesday night) must be broadcast on a free tv channel. Typically in EU territories, the free TV broadcaster (which normally is a channel that allows commercial advertisements, so as to meet UEFA's obligations to tournament sponsors) will be awarded the right to the ‘1st pick’ of matches either over the entire Matchday or for a single night. This means that the free TV broadcaster is given priority over the pay TV broadcaster in determining which match they will be broadcasting, so in effect the free TV broadcaster will be able to pick the match which it perceives to be most attractive to their audience. Both the free and pay channels carry the final.
In territories where teams from the territory are regularly in the competition, it is always the case that free TV broadcasters will pick matches involving teams from their own territory given that this will be of far greater interest to the audience in that territory. For example, TF1 in France will pick matches involving French teams if they are still in the competition.
Also, although pay TV broadcasters always hold the rights to broadcast the majority (if not all) of the matches, it does not mean they will broadcast them all. This is especially the case during the group stage where 8 matches are played on any one night (all matches kick-off at 20.45 CET, with the exception of matches held in Russia). This is due to limitations in a broadcaster’s capacity to be able to broadcast matches, so for example, Sky Sports in the United Kingdom will always broadcast every match for which they have the rights to do so – utilising its ownership of the Sky Digital satellite television service on which it broadcasts, whilst Sport TV in Portugal will broadcast a selection of the matches it has the rights to, but not all, as it has limited broadcasting capacity on the TV Cabo satellite and cable television service.
Some broadcasters, notably including SportTV, SKY Sport and Sky Sports, offer matches in HDTV.
RTP renewed the rights for Portugal until 2012, becoming the first broadcaster to broadcast UEFA Champions League since its creation, without interruption (rights being bought by another station, for example).
On 1 July 2009 Kanal A became Slovenia's new broadcaster. Its owner Pro Plus bought television, internet and mobile rights for three seasons.
[edit] International broadcasters
| Country/Region | Language | Free/Pay TV | Broadcaster | Tuesday Night Live Matches | Wednesday Night Live Matches | Tuesday Night Highlights | Wednesday Night Highlights | Weekly magazine show |
| English-speaking Africa | English | Pay | Super Sport (South Africa) | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
  Portuguese Speaking Africa | Portuguese | Pay | SportTV África | Portuguese Teams and more two other matches from other teams from another countries. | Portuguese Teams and more two other matches from other teams from another countries. | No | Yes | Yes |
 Albania | Albanian | Free | TV Klan | 1 match | 1 match | Yes | Yes | |
| Pay | DigitAlb | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Algeria | Arabic | Free | ENTV | | | | | |
 Argentina | Spanish | Free | Canal 7 | 1st pick on either Tuesday or Wednesday night | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | Fox Sports Latin America | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Armenia | Armenian | Free | ARM 1 | 1 match | 1 match | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free | New Wave Channel | 1 match (sometimes 2 matches) | 1 match (sometimes 2 matches) | | | |
 Australia 
New Zealand | English | Free | SBS
(Australia only) | 2 matches when NSW and Victoria are operating on AEST, 1 match when NSW and Victoria are operating on AEDT (Daylight savings) | 2 matches when NSW and Victoria are operating on AEST, 1 match when NSW and Victoria are operating on AEDT (Daylight savings) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | ESPN Australia | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Austria | German | Free | ORF | 1st pick on either Tuesday or Wednesday night | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | Sky Germany | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Azerbaijan | Azerbaijani | Free | Lider TV | 1 match | 1 match | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Belarus | Russian | Free | National State Teleradiocompany | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Belgium | French | Free | Club RTL | 1st pick | 1st pick | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Flemish | 2BE | 1st pick | 1st pick | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | Prime | 2 matches excluding match shown by 2BE | 2 matches excluding match shown by 2BE | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Bosnia-Herzegovina | Bosnian | Free | BHT | 1 match | 1 match | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Bolivia | Spanish | Free | ATB | 1st pick | 1st pick | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Brazil | Portuguese | Free | Rede Bandeirantes
| 1 match | 1 match | | | Yes |
| Pay | ESPN Brasil | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN Latin America | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Bulgaria | Bulgarian | Free | PRO.BG | 1 match (1st pick) | 1 match (1st pick) | | | |
| Diema | 1 match (Live) + 1 match (Record) | 1 match (Live) + 1 match (Record) | Yes | Yes | |
| Diema 2 | 1 match (Live) + 1 match (Record) | 1 match (Live) + 1 match (Record) |
 Canada1 | English | Pay | Rogers Sportsnet and Setanta Sports Canada | Rogers Sportsnet has 1st and 3rd picks, Setanta Sports Canada has 2nd pick | Rogers Sportsnet has 1st and 3rd picks, Setanta Sports Canada has 2nd pick | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Chile | Spanish | Free | Chilevision | 1st pick of Real Madrid C.F. on either Tuesday or Wednesday night | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | Fox Sports Latin America | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 China | Chinese (Mandarin) | Free | CCTV | 1st and 2nd pick | 1st and 2nd pick | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| English | Pay | ESPN Star Sports | At least 1 match | At least 1 match | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Hong Kong | Chinese (Cantonese) & English | Pay | Cable TV Hong Kong | 4 matches | 4 matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Taiwan 
Philippines 
Malaysia | Chinese (Mandarin) & English | Pay | ESPN Star Sports | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 DR Congo | French | Free | RTCN 2 | 1st pick | 3rd pick | | | |
 Singapore | Chinese (Mandarin) & English | Pay | Singtel MioTV (Football Frenzy) | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Croatia | Croatian | Free | Hrvatska televizija | No | All matches | No | Yes | Yes |
| Free | Nova TV | 1st pick | No | Yes | No | Yes |
 Cyprus³ | Greek | Free | Sigma TV | | | | | |
 Czech Republic | Czech | Free | Česká televize | No | 1st pick | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | Nova Sport | 1st pick | 2nd pick | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Ecuador | Spanish | Free | Teleamazonas | No Matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | No |
 Finland | Finnish & Swedish | Free | YLE | 1st pick | | Yes | Yes | No |
| Pay | CANAL+ | No matches | 1st pick | Yes (shown on Wed) | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | Viasat | All matches | All matches excluding match shown by CANAL+ | No | No | Yes |
 France 
Monaco | French | Free | TF1 | 1st pick on either Tuesday or Wednesday night | No | No | No |
| Pay | Canal+ | All matches excluding match shown by TF1 | All matches excluding match shown by TF1 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Georgia | Georgian | Free | Rustavi 2 | | | | | |
 Germany | German | Free | Sat.1 | No | 1st pick | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | Sky Germany | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Greece | Greek | Free | Mega Channel | 1 match | No Matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free | ERT | No matches | 1 Match | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | Nova Sports | All matches excluding match shown by Mega Channel | All matches excluding match shown by ERT | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Hungary | Hungarian | Free | TV2 | 1st pick on Tuesday night | No match | Yes | No | Yes |
| Pay | DigiSport | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 India 
Pakistan 
Sri Lanka 
Bangladesh 
Maldives 
Nepal | English | Pay | TEN Sports & Zee Sports | 2 matches | 2 matches | | | Yes |
 Indonesia | Indonesian and English | Free | RCTI | 1 match | 1 match | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | Vision 1 Sports | 2 matches including matches shown by RCTI | 2 matches including matches shown by RCTI |
 Iceland | Icelandic | Pay | Stöð 2 Sport | 3 matches
(Usually English club) | 3 matches
(Usually English club) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Iran | Persian | Free | IRIB 3 | 1 match (sometimes 2 matches) | 1 match (sometimes 2 matches) | | | Yes |
 Ireland2 | English | Free | RTÉ | 1st pick | 1st Pick | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | Setanta Ireland | 2nd Pick excluding match shown by RTÉ | 2nd Pick excluding match shown by RTÉ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Israel | Hebrew | Free | Sport 5 | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Channel 10 | Only Maccabi Haifa F.C.'s matches | No | No | No |
| Pay | Sport 5+
5+ Gold
Sport 5 HD
| All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 5+ live | Breaking news from all the matches | Breaking news from all the matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sport 1
Sport 2 | 2 matches | 2 matches | No | No | No |
 Italy | Italian | Free | RAI | No matches (but it can broadcast semifinal) | Only Italian clubs matches
1st pick | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | SKY Sport | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | Mediaset Premium | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Kazakhstan | Russian/Kazakh | Free | Channel 31 | All matches | All matches |
 Japan | Japanese | Pay | SKY PerfecTV! | | | | | Yes |
 Macedonia | Macedonian | Free | Kanal 5 | all matches | all matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Mali | French | Free | ORT | | | | | |
 Malta | Maltese | Pay | Melita Digital | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Mexico | Spanish & English | Pay | Fox Sports Latin America | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Spanish | Free | Televisa | 1st pick excluding matches shown by TV Azteca | 1st pick excluding matches shown by TV Azteca | Yes | Yes | No |
| Free | TV Azteca | 1st pick excluding matches shown by Televisa | 1st pick excluding matches shown by Televisa | Yes | Yes | No |
Middle East, North Africa &East Africa  Yemen  Palestine  Egypt  Iraq  Syria  KSA  Jordan  Lebanon  UAE  Oman  Bahrain  Qatar  Kuwait  Algeria  Morocco  Tunisia  Libya  Mauritania  Western Sahara  Chad  Senegal  Somalia  Ethiopia  Djibouti  Eritrea  Sudan | Arabic/English | Pay | Al Jazeera Sports | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Morocco | Arabic and French | Free | 2M | 1st pick | 1st pick | No | No | Yes |
| Free | Arryadia | 1st pick | 1st pick | Yes | Yes | No |
 Moldova | Romanian | Free | Moldova 1 | 1st pick | 1st pick | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Netherlands | Dutch | Free | NOS | 1st pick | 1st pick | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | Sport1 | All matches including matches shown by NOS | All matches including matches shown by NOS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Peru | Spanish | Free | Red Global Televisión | 1st pick | 1st pick | No | No | Yes |
| Pay | Fox Sports Latin America | 1 match (Live) + 1 match (Record) | 1 match (Live) + 1 match (Record) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | DirecTV | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Portugal | Portuguese | Free | RTP | 1 game if Portuguese team is in and plays that fixture on Tuesday: 1 eliminatory game | 1 game if Portuguese team is in and plays that fixture on Wednesday: 1 eliminatory game | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | SportTV | 2 games in group stage and all games in knockout stage | 2 games in group stage and all games in knockout stage | No | Yes | Yes |
 Poland | Polish | Free | Polsat | No | 1st pick | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | nSport | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Romania | Romanian | Free | TVR1/TVR HD | 1 match | 1 match | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | Boom Sport | All matches except 1st pick | All matches except 1st pick | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Russia | Russian | Free | NTV | 1 match on either Tuesday or Wednesday night | | | |
| Pay | NTV Plus | All matches | | | |
 Denmark 
Estonia 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Norway | Language of country | Pay | National variations of TV3 | | | | | |
 Serbia | Serbian | Free | Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) | 1 match | 1 match | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Albanian | Free | RTK | 2 matches | 2 matches | |
 Slovakia | Slovak | Free | Slovenská televízia | 1 match | 2 matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Slovenia | Slovenian | Free | Kanal A | 1 match live, other in highlights | 1 match live, other in highlights | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 South Africa | English | Free | e.tv | | | | | |
| Pay | Super Sport (South Africa) | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 South Korea | Korean | Pay | MBC ESPN | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Spain | Spanish, Catalan/Valencian, Galician, Basque | Free | TVE | 1st pick | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| FORTA / CEXMA / CyLtv | No | 1st pick | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | Gol Televisión | All matches live excluding match shown by TVE, and all deferred | All matches live excluding match shown by FORTA, and all deferred | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Sweden | Swedish | Both4 | Viasat | All matches, 1st pick on TV6 | All matches, 1st pick on Viasat Fotboll | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Switzerland | French, German, Italian | Free | SRG SSR | At least 1st pick on either Tuesday or Wednesday night | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | Teleclub | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Thailand | Thai | Pay | ESPN Star Sports (via True Visions) | All Matches | All Matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free | Channel 3 & Channel 7 | All Matches | All Matches | Yes | Yes | Yes (Channel 3) |
 Turkey | Turkish | Free | Star TV | 1st pick | 1st pick | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | D-Smart | All matches excluding matches shown by Star TV | All matches excluding matches shown by Star TV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Ukraine | Ukrainian | Free | TRK Ukraina TET |
| Pay | Poverkhnost TV | | |
 United Kingdom2 | English | Free | ITV | No matches | 1st pick | No | Yes | Yes |
| STV | No matches | As ITV[2] | No | Yes | Yes |
| Pay | Sky Sports | All matches | All matches (excluding ITV match) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 United States5 
Puerto Rico | English & Spanish | Pay | Fox Sports Net, Fox Soccer Channel, FX (Final) Fox Sports en Español, Setanta Sports USA, and DirecTV | All matches5 | All matches5 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Venezuela | Spanish | Free | Meridiano Television | 1st pick on either Tuesday or Wednesday night | No | No | Yes |
| Pay | Fox Sports Latin America | All matches | All matches | Yes | Yes | Yes |
1Rogers Sportsnet has 1st and 3th picks of matches each day. The network also uses its pairs of its 4 regional feeds (Pacific/West, Ontario/East) to split 2 matches across the country. Setanta Sports Canada has the rest of the matches plus the highlights shows.
2As Ireland shares the Sky Digital satellite television service with the United Kingdom, Irish viewers across the island also have access to UK and Irish broadcasters including ITV, Sky Sports, RTÉ and Setanta Ireland.
²Sky Germany acquired all rights for the German market on the condition that they broadcast one 1st pick match each Matchday on Free TV. Sky Germany later took over DSF for this purpose.
³Like the Republic of Ireland, Cyprus shares the NOVA satellite television service with Greece, and so Cypriot viewers also have access to Greek broadcasters showing UCL coverage.
4TV6 is free through terrestrial television.
5FOX Sports International has the first, third, fourth picks. FOX Sports Net carries the primary game for English speakers live on Tuesdays; FOX Soccer Channel (FSC) usually carries the primary game for English speakers live on Wednesdays; and Fox Sports en Español (FSE) carries one match live for Spanish speakers on both Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Setanta Sports USA has the second pick. DirecTV has the remaining matches (4th-8th picks) live in high definition. FSC, FSE, and Setanta Sports USA offer other games on tape delay. FX will air the final match live.[3]
6Record News did not show the same Wednesdays matches of Rede Record. And did not show this matches live. Show UEFA Champions League Weekly Magazine as Rede Record.
[edit] References
