Spanish public-service broadcaster RTVE has retained the rights to air the showpiece final of European soccer’s UEFA Champions League for the next three years.
It has been reported that the broadcaster has paid €2.5 million ($2.62 million) each for the next three Champions League finals, in 2025 (May 31), 2026 (May 30), and 2027 (June 5), totaling €7.5 million.
RTVE also reportedly outbid rival broadcasters Mediaset and Atresmedia for the continued rights in the country.
This means that the final will remain on free-to-air in the country, as it has done since 2022, although pay-TV rightsholder Movistar+ will also broadcast the final as it does the remainder of the tournament.
The 2024 Champions League final, which saw Spanish icons Real Madrid win out over German side Borussia Dortmund, was watched by an average of 6.17 million people on RTVE, a 48.8% viewership share.
That drew significantly more than the 2023 final, which featured no Spanish sides and only attracted a paltry 3.6 million viewers, especially compared to the 2022 final, when Real Madrid defeated Liverpool, which drew 7.7 million.
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By GlobalDataThe 2025 Champions League final will take place in Munich, Germany at the Allianz Arena, and in 2026 at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.
The host of the 2027 final, however, is still undecided after the iconic San Siro in Milan, Italy was stripped of hosting rights due to renovation work at the venue.
Spain is one of two nations to have bid for the right to host the 2027 final, putting forward Madrid’s 70,460-capacity Metropolitano stadium.
The other bid, made by Azerbaijan’s AFFA governing body, centers upon the 69,870-capacity Baku Olympic Stadium, home of the Azerbaijani national team and club side Qarabag.