TNT Sports, the broadcaster of the Champions League since 2015, is set to relinquish its rights in 2027.
Viewers will require a subscription to access Saturday’s Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris St-Germain, following TNT Sports’ decision not to offer the match on a free-to-air basis.
This decision comes despite growing calls from fan groups and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to make the game accessible to all.
It marks the first instance since the Champions League’s inception in 1992 that supporters will face a paywall to watch the final.
In a letter to TNT executives last Saturday, Sir Keir, an Arsenal supporter, expressed his firm belief that the competition’s final should remain free to watch.
BBC News understands that Sir Keir did not receive a response, and TNT Sports has not indicated any change in its policy for the match, which will be held in Budapest, Hungary.
On Thursday, Sir Keir collaborated with the Football Supporters’ Association, external and various independent fan groups in a renewed effort to persuade TNT to reconsider its stance.
BBC Sport has learned that Uefa is disappointed by the decision, having advocated for the final to remain accessible to a broad audience.
However, the ultimate decision regarding broadcasting rights rests with the rights holder.
All three major European finals, each featuring an English club, have been shown exclusively on pay-TV platforms.
Aston Villa secured a 3-0 victory against Freiburg last week to claim the Europa League trophy, while Crystal Palace triumphed in the Conference League on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.
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Six years prior, the government rejected a proposal from a House of Lords select committee to include the Champions League final on the list of “crown jewels” events, which would have ensured its continued free-to-air status.
Highlights of the Champions League final will be available on the BBC Sport website and across social media channels 15 minutes after the trophy presentation, and on BBC iPlayer and television later in the evening.
Live commentary will also be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live.
The Champions League final was previously broadcast free-to-air on ITV each year from 1993, with the exception of the 1994 final, which was shown live on the BBC, until BT Sport acquired the rights, commencing with the 2015-16 season.
BT Sport continued to make the final available without a subscription until 2023, simultaneously broadcasting the game on its YouTube channel.
This approach changed following the acquisition of BT Sport by Warner Bros Discovery and its subsequent rebranding as TNT Sports.
While the finals remained available without direct cost, fans were required to create a discovery+ account to gain access.
Discovery+ has since been replaced by Warner Bros Discovery’s new streaming service, HBO Max, which does not offer a free access option.
Viewers will not require a full TNT Sports subscription, and can instead subscribe to HBO Max for a single month.
The most affordable subscription is priced at £4.99, which would encompass all three matches, although many Sky customers already have HBO Max included in their existing packages.
TNT Sports is set to lose its European rights from the 2027-28 season onwards.
Paramount+ has secured the rights to the Champions League, while the Europa League and the Conference League will be broadcast on Sky Sports.
Warner Bros Discovery has been contacted for comment.
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Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.
There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.