Turner will broadcast the majority of its UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches—nearly 300—exclusively on its new subscription OTT platform, B/R Live.
The media conglomerate acquired UEFA rights for the next three years and will air 47 matches on linear channel TNT in 2018/19—the Europa League final, the UEFA Super Cup (pitting the Europa and Champions League winners), and 45 Champions League matches. Each match on TNT will also be available on B/R Live.
The full inventory of matches in Turner’s package amounts to more than 340, so the majority of group stage matches will only be available via streaming. Turner is offering annual packages for $79.99, monthly for $9.99, or individual matches for $2.99.
All of Turner’s UEFA content, which will include studio analysis shows, will run under the B/R Football banner. B/R Live is available through the web, as well as iTunes, Google Play, Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.
SportTechie Takeaway
The breakdown of matches shown on TNT versus those only on B/R Live is fairly predictable. The highest-stake matches—all Champions League knockout stage matches, the Europa League final, and the Super Cup—will exist in both domains, as will select Champions League group stage matches. The appeal of this service follows the same idea as NBA League Pass and other such subscription services that enable out-of-market fans to watch their favorite teams or the most compelling matches, no matter their location.
The most noteworthy nugget in this announcement is the $2.99 price point for individual matches. Turner co-produces NBA League Pass, where single games cost $6.99, but this type of distribution for UEFA contests is newer so a lower rate is not surprising.