The CBS Sports Network and its online platform Paramount+ will remain the place to be for elite European football stateside
CBS Sports has renewed its broadcasting rights deal for UEFA competitions until 2029/30. This new six-year extension to the existing deal between the two will see the network retain not only the flagship UEFA Champions League but also the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League.
As well as providing live coverage of all fixtures from these competitions, CBS will also air regular highlight shows and other dynamic content including its popular Golazo! show which brings key moments of all matches, like goals, penalties and near misses, directly to audiences as they happen.
CBS has long been lauded for its approach to production in the US sports market, combining a very capable crew behind the scenes with expert pundits on screen. Shows like Golazo! have demonstrated the network's ability to take a very American idea and apply it to European sports.
This expertise and approach are likely the reason why CBS once again won the rights to UEFA football, beating out a worthy bid from Amazon. Prime Video did however pick up the rights to some UEFA matches in the UK market.
Sean McManus, Chairman of CBS Sports, remarked of the deal:
“UEFA has been a key driver for Paramount+ since our launch and we are thrilled to extend this successful partnership showcasing even more world-class soccer through the 2029-30 season, building on the incredible momentum we have created the past two years,”
The winning bid from CBS came in around $1.5bn, once again proving the growth in popularity of the competition and the sport more generally in the United States. This huge number is a significant increase on what was paid for the last agreement on a season-by-season basis.
As has been the case until now, CBS will continue to showcase some of the biggest names in the sport like Real Madrid and Manchester City on traditional television on its CBS Sports Network, while making every game available via live streaming on its Paramount+ platform.
This move to put certain matches, especially those taking place in the later rounds of the tournament, on over-the-air television is believed to be a key factor in the increasing popularity of the UEFA Champions League in the US. CBS now has the next eight years to continue to foster that growth.
The renewal of this deal will be good news for Paramount+ which relies on UEFA to attract new subscribers and keep them. These rights help build the image that Paramount+ is the place to be for elite football from across the pond.
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