Starmer urges TNT Sports to air Champions League final for free
Sir Keir Starmer has urged the broadcaster of the Champions League final to air the game for free next Saturday.
The Prime Minister is attempting to prevent this year becoming the first in the Champion’s Leagues 34-year history in which the final is not free to watch for British fans.
The match will be streamed by TNT Sports on HBO Max, where the cheapest subscription package costs £4.99 per month.
Arsenal, of whom Starmer is a devoted fan and season ticket holder, are set to face off against Paris Saint Germain in Budapest, Hungary, on May 30.
Arsenal fan Starmer puts pressure on TNT
The Prime Minister wrote to TNT Sports on Saturday, saying he was “saddened” to learn that the final will not be free to watch.
He said: “Obviously I want as many fellow fans as possible to be able to watch our team in this historic final for the first time in 20 years. However, this is bigger than that.
“This is about supporters of all teams coming together in living rooms and pubs in every corner of the country to watch the most elite players in Europe battle it out.”
Starmer said he has been lobbying FIFA to make more affordable tickets available at this summer’s World Cup.
“Hard-working people should not have to worry about forking out for a subscription to watch a game of this magnitude,” he wrote.
Football should not be ‘behind paywall’
This comes after several MPs called on the Prime Minister to ensure the match is free-to-air.
Labour MP Jon Trickett said earlier this week that “all major sporting finals should be free to watch on UK television”.
“I’d like to see the government take action to ensure future events like the Champions League final are accessible to as many people as possible,” he added.
Shadow sport minister Louie French said that “millions of football fans will have to pay extra to watch the Champions League final”.
“While we know that broadcasters need to generate revenue to make sure they can continue to air Europe’s biggest sporting events, where possible, football should be accessible to supporters, not hidden behind a paywall,” he said.
A spokesperson for TNT Sports said: “It has been a privilege to bring UEFA club competitions to sports fans across the UK throughout the season. Having three Premier League clubs reach the finals shows the strength of English Football and something that we are proud to continue to support.
“We have made all three UEFA finals this year available from just £4.99, the price for a month-long subscription to HBO Max that also includes the great entertainment on the service. This represents exceptional value for fans to watch the conclusion of the competitions.”