On the heels of NBC’s Premier League Pass and ESPN announcing its own paid streaming service, Turner Sports will launch a new, online paid-subscription service beginning in the summer of 2018 to broadcast the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League rights that it owns.
The net result to soccer fans is that more than 80% of the UEFA Champions League and Europa Leagues games will only be available via a paid subscription model
Turner’s rights deal for the Champions League and Europa League begins in August, 2018 and runs through 2021.
SEE MORE: Schedule of Champions League games on US TV and streaming
Under Turner’s plans, approximately 60 of the 340 Champions League each season will air on truTV, as we predicted in March. That includes, for the Champions League, two matches on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (at 1pm and 3pm ET each Tues/Weds). Then once the competitions advance to the knockout stages in February, Turner will televise two matches a week on truTV, one each on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The semi-finals and finals of the Champions League will air on TNT or TBS. The final of the Europa League will air on TNT or TBS.
That means that the other 280 matches will not air on TV and soccer fans will need to, as we predicted in May, subscribe to a paid-subscription streaming service from Turner Sports.
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Nosferatu
August 18, 2017 at 1:56 am
I don’t get them not showing ANY Europa League games, particularly when you consider that they’ve already paid for the rights, and odds are they’re going to have at least one “big” English team in the competition, maybe two or even three once they get past the group stages. Is it really better to show, as I see on the TV listings for truTV next Thursday afternoon, an endless string of reruns of some show called Impractical Jokers, or an Arsenal or Manchester United or Liverpool game?
I never liked Fox’s coverage, and just because this deal looks like it’ll turn out to be crap I’m not about to backtrack on that, but I wasn’t exactly ready to celebrate Turner taking over–I did have a niggling feeling that something like this might be coming. And lo, is it stupid, worse than I would have predicted, though I suppose that’s just par for the course in America these days.
Oliver Tse
August 18, 2017 at 9:16 am
Turner Sports gave me a big whopping “tell” when it decided to dump the entire UEFA Europa League except final into the over-the-top subscription package.
The “tell”? Turner Sports COO Matthew Hong is “cheap” and wants to spend as little money on production as possible.
Mr. Hong knows that the Input Media world feed announcers for the UEFA Europa League except final are generally poor. Many of them are essentially trainees out of university. Furthermore, the announcers work solo during most UEFA Europa League matches, with no analyst/co-comm.
Instead of spending money to hire announcers, Mr. Hong decided not to bother with TV production of UEFA Europa League matches (except the final) and dumped the matches into the over-the-top subscription package.
(That’s not the case with the UEFA Champions League, as Input Media will hire good announcers who are either off duty from their primary jobs at Sky Sports UK such as Ian Crocker, or good analysts/co-comms such as Danny Higginbotham and Efan Ekoku whose “names” are not big enough to get consistent work on U.K. domestic television.)
Brendan
August 17, 2017 at 9:42 pm
Time to take Spainish lessons to understand what is been said . . I am sure they will be showing the big clubs just like Fox are right now on Cable Tv and the smaller seeds teams on the payed subscription just like NBC Gold . The Europa League doesn’t have a enough quality games on it to want to pay extra for it . So not missing out on much . Will they have a hightlight show for both competitions like FOX have right now
Anthony
August 17, 2017 at 3:37 pm
Oliver Tse makes a great point about Univision. More often than not, when I’m out watching soccer matches at pubs, Univision is on the screen. Fans aren’t going to go through hoops (i.e. pay) to watch European soccer in English. It’s cool having English commentary for Premier League, but it’s not necessary for other leagues.
Eddie
August 17, 2017 at 12:32 pm
what wrong with trutv and hln instead tnt and tbs because oliver tse recommend to use trutv
Eddie
August 17, 2017 at 12:36 pm
we should use hln and trutv or not tnt and tbs due the fees and i got proof f oliver tse article and this is a mistake to the networks of turner sports like starting 2018 tnt and tbs and trutv and hln on 4 networks to coverge the uefa soccer.
Eddie
August 17, 2017 at 12:41 pm
will the finals be teamcast like tnt or tbs televise the finals like for example if tnt/tbs/trutv will help the rateing because fox televise the finals on free air tv and they need three channels to help the rateing or teamcast likr tnt/tbs/trutv for the first time on cable on soccer
Oliver Tse
August 17, 2017 at 6:41 pm
I expect Turner to use the Input Media world feed for the UEFA Super Cup, the UEFA Europa League Final, and the UEFA Champions League final.
Input Media generally uses Tony Jones and David Pleat to call the finals.
Input Media world feed announcers are only at the stadium for the UEFA Champions League Final. They call all other matches off monitor from a studio in Shepherds Bush, West London.
Eddie
August 17, 2017 at 9:39 pm
you said it will put trutv and hln on uefa soccer instead tnt/tbs will air the uefa soccer. it was mistake
i think tnt/tbs air one matches and whiparound and trutv air both matches and pre and post show and playoffs will air trutv and semi and final either tnt ot tbs and it might need teamcast like tnt/trutv air teamcast and tbs air national finals and what the schedule for turner sports of tnt/tbs/trutv in 2018.
Rick
August 17, 2017 at 11:33 am
Terrible decision. The average fan loses out again to greed.
Spencer
August 17, 2017 at 11:47 am
More like amateur hour. Hard to see how Turner makes money off this with Luddites calling the shots.
Oliver Tse
August 17, 2017 at 2:34 pm
Turner Sports i.e. Lenny Daniels, Craig Barry, and Matthew Hong come across to me as arrogant.
They continue to believe that English-speaking millennials will be willing to pay for streams in English (with world feed voices) even if Spanish-language video from Univision Deportes will be available for free, despite warnings from many industry observers who have gone out of their way to reach out to them that their business plan is flawed.
Furthermore, because Turner CANNOT promote UEFA Champions League during NBA on TNT or NCAA March Madness due to contractual restrictions (no in-game promos period; no advertising allowed during commercial breaks of NCAA March Madness; limited advertising allowed during commercial breaks of NBA on TNT.) The only Turner Sports TV product in which Turner can fully cross-promote UEFA is ELEAGUE, the video gaming (a.k.a. “eSport”) product.
As I wrote above, Univision Deportes boss Juan Carlos Rodriguez is now licking his chops, as he readies his plan to kill Turner. Rodriguez only has to spend approximately $1000/match, or $48,000 total, in production costs (2 announcers at around $300-350 each plus 1 producer) to give away the 48 UEFA Champions League matches not being shown on UDN or UniMas on UnivisionDeportes.com and the Univision Deportes app.
Nosferatu
August 18, 2017 at 1:48 am
I think you’re right on this point.. Most of us here, I’m going to assume, aren’t of the younger demographic, but speaking as someone in his 30s who teaches college freshmen, I feel like I have a decent sense of how young people of that age operate as football fans, and it is not through the traditional means like most of us older folks. They tend to not even give a second thought as to illegal streams of games (I mean, I know this, they literally tell me this when I engage with them about European football).
Sure, when they’re home they sometimes will watch on TV if their parents have cable/satellite, but I more and more I’ve grown to think that this industry is in serious danger if it doesn’t adapt. And the way Turner is going about this is especially foolish. These kids are totally used to watching a stream on their phone or their computer, and that’s not going to go away entirely once they’re out of college and working. I’ll admit I don’t totally get it, as I like to watch in vivid detail on a large TV screen because it’s more satisfying. But as they like to say, it is what it is.
Collin Werner
August 17, 2017 at 11:16 am
It wont be long before people are wishing Fox Sports still had Champions League rights.
Soccertvblog
August 17, 2017 at 10:42 am
Might as well title the article: “How Turner Will Help Proliferation Of Illegal Streaming Next Season”
Oliver Tse
August 17, 2017 at 10:38 am
My reaction: good luck to Turner with the over-the-top service, as Univision only has to spend $50,000 in production cost each season to give away every UEFA Champions League group stage match (via UnivisionDeportes.com or the Univision Deportes app) that Univision cannot air on UDN or UniMas.
The UEFA Europa League isn’t worth much if anything as a subscription product. Besides, UDN and UniMas will have UEFA Europa League doubleheaders on each match day, for a total of 4 matches.
—
I expected heavy integration with Bleacher Report, heavy cross-promotion with ELEAGUE, and matches on truTV.
I did not get everything right, as HLN will not be used, and the big matches will be on TBS or TNT.
Also, Turner has concluded that the Europa League is not worth the cost of TV production, as every match other than the final will be stuffed into the over-the-top package, Turner basically conceded the Europa League to Univision (UDN and UniMas.)
That fits with my observation that Turner Sports COO Matthew Hong (who runs NBA TV) wants to go “cheap” with production. I now expect 100% Input Media world feeds, with Tony Jones and David Pleat as voices for the CL final, EL final, and the Super Cup.
(Translation: the likes of Derek Rae will probably have to look elsewhere for freelance work.)
Even if Turner were to get everything right with respect to the studio show, it may still lose to Univision.
If Turner were to go “dirt cheap” with the studio show, i.e. hiring Atlanta United FC TV host Brittany Arnold for $30,000 (32 broadcast days total) and let her learn on the job (instead of the more expensive and more experienced CNN International World Sport anchors such as Kate Riley, Patrick Snell, or Don Riddell), and hiring 2 Atlanta United FC personnel (i.e. Carlos Bocanegra and/or two random English-speaking players) as studio pundits, then Univision will likely kill Turner in the ratings race.
—
Univision’s lineup of talent for UEFA CL is well known by now: Luis Omar Tapia will be one of the play-by-play announcers as he has called the UEFA CL for 23 straight years (going all the way back to ESPN Latin America in 1994-1995.) Diego Balado will likely be the primary match analyst in the booth. Ivan “Bam Bam” Zamorano and Hristo Stoitchkov will likely be the studio pundits.
Univision Deportes boss Juan Carlos Rodriguez has to be licking his chops right now.
John R
August 17, 2017 at 10:28 am
Travesty. Do the math, in knockout stages round of 16 over two week period you will see 4 games (times 2 legs) but miss out on 4 (times 2 legs). Lame.
Imagine last year missing out on Man City v Monaco, Sevilla v Leicester, etc, etc.
Knockout deserves all games seen without sub.
CTBlues
August 17, 2017 at 9:38 am
Gaffer, did they say how many UEL games they will be showing on TruTV during the group stage and knockout stage?
Christopher Harris
August 17, 2017 at 10:23 am
All of the Europa League games will be available via OTT. The only Europa League game shown on TV will be the final, on either TBS or TNT.
Paul
August 17, 2017 at 9:32 am
Most people have limited funds to spend on subscriptions. Choices will have to be made and eventually under subscribed services will fail due to lack of subscribers. The subscription model being used by the various networks might work in the short term but I can’t see a long term future for them, especially when soccer comes behind NFL, NBA, and NHL when it comes to viewers money. In the end viewers will use alternative options for watching soccer.
Ross Wilkers
August 17, 2017 at 9:16 am
Those of us that are *not* cord-cutters should not be cut out of viewing options. Over-the-top is supposed to be an *alternative* option no?
Joey
August 17, 2017 at 9:14 am
Haha all the Fox haters can suck it! I like their coverage and now you get what you wanted! Looks like it’s back to one game a week like in the old ESPN days.
CTBlues
August 17, 2017 at 9:36 am
Did you even read the article? It says 4 games a week during the group stage and 4 games a week during the knockout stage.
CTBlues
August 17, 2017 at 9:38 am
*2 games/week during knockout stage.
Chris
August 17, 2017 at 9:04 am
Funny how their is an advertisement to signup for a free trial to watch MLS, La Liga and other games right at the end of this article.
CTBlues
August 17, 2017 at 8:53 am
Univision will be airing the UCL as well.
RedCard
August 17, 2017 at 8:59 am
Yes but as far as I can tell they’ve only released details for linear tv. What are they doing for anything not airing on one of their networks? Will it be free to authenticated subscribers or will they also put them behind a paywall?
JN
August 17, 2017 at 8:53 am
To what Anthony said, things look like they are heading in the direction of where one may need to pay a subscription fee for every league, which will get very expensive when one adds them all up. Also, with the regular channels there are a lot fish in the pond. There will be less of them 5-10 years for now, and we will be right back to some of the same problems we have with cable and satellite providers.
Of course we don’t know how much the streaming service will cost just yet. That said, people only have so much disposable income. As much as I like following this tournament, I may pass on this one and just catch the games that are on TruTV, learn some Spanish etc.
Another unknown question is for the games that are on the cable channels (I assume these will be the major teams), will those also be on the streaming service.
Lastly, these efforts will hurt the exposure of the sport in the US.
garwilly
August 17, 2017 at 8:48 am
Great, more football I will not be able to watch
Anthony
August 17, 2017 at 8:41 am
Gaffer, when is the La Liga contract up in the US? It’s hard to imagine Turner or ESPN not making a heavy bid for that league to put behind these paywalls
Oliver Tse
August 17, 2017 at 10:24 am
beIN has La Liga through the 2019-2020 season.
Univision will make a play for US rights to La Liga if and when beIN were to go away.
I don’t see beIN surviving past December 2022.
Anthony
August 17, 2017 at 8:36 am
I know most visitors to this site like streaming, but to me these developments are all a step back. In a few years, it’s not inconceivable that every soccer cup and domestic league will each require a separate subscription of some kind. Soccer fans will end up having to pay separately for everything just to watch soccer. This doesn’t include their spending for Netflix, Hulu and however they get regular channels. Eventually people will end up paying more for the same content (or less).
Ivan
August 17, 2017 at 8:35 am
OUCH! This is terrible! Careful what you wish for, at least Fox had all games available on overflow channels on Directv.
Seriously, are all those companies hell bent on making sure people ditch cable/satellite tv?
RedCard
August 17, 2017 at 8:57 am
DIRECTV hasn’t had the overflow feeds for several years. They were moved to ESPN3 and fox soccer2go/match pass.
RedCard
August 17, 2017 at 8:26 am
What percentage of games are exclusive to Match Pass today?
What is Univision doing with games they aren’t airing on linear tv? Will they be available anywhere? I can deal with it speaking Spanish if it allows me to see my team at no additional cost outside of my current cable bill.
LIguy
August 17, 2017 at 8:15 am
One thing that’s good is that it sounds like all will be available OTT as opposed to NBC Sports Gold where you still need cable or another online service.
Collin Werner
August 17, 2017 at 11:13 am
According to the NYTimes article, it will be the same as NBC Sports Gold where you need both cable and streaming service to get all the games.