European football’s governing body is exploring a D2C streaming platform for Champions League matches ahead of the 2027-2031 rights cycle

Champ League

Uefa is reportedly planning to trial a direct-to-consumer (D2C) streaming service for Champions League matches.

The aim is to have the platform ready before the next television rights cycle, which is from 2027 to 2031.

Details about the potential implementation and roll out of the platform is largely speculative at the moment, but, according to a report in The Guardian, the D2C service could be made available in Indonesia or India.

This would either be as a complementary service to a broadcaster rights deal, or could potentially also become the exclusive means to access Champions League matches in these regions.

The Guardian says that UC3 – created by Uefa and European Football Clubs (EFC) to focus on commercial rights – wants to follow the lead of The Premier League, which is planning to launch its own D2C app, starting in Singapore next season.

The recent moves by Leagues and federations to trial D2C platforms in certain markets is an indicator of how a one size fits all approach to selling sports rights globally is often not necessarily the best fit in terms of potential revenue and reach.