Illegal Streams Surge as Arsenal Faces PSG in Controversial Champions League Final

Illegal Streams Surge as Arsenal Faces PSG in Controversial Champions League Final

Arsenal’s Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain garnered over 16.2 million illegal stream views in the UK after being unavailable free-to-air. Analysis by Gaming Compliance International (GCI) revealed that these views originated from 3.7 million unique IP addresses. In contrast, the final was legally viewed by more than 7 million people on TNT Sports and HBO Max. The decision by TNT to not offer free-to-air coverage sparked significant backlash, with Sir Keir Starmer urging the broadcaster to reconsider. Despite TNT reporting satisfaction with its viewing figures and a 25.6% audience share, the scale of illegal streaming poses a long-term challenge for both TNT and rights holders like Uefa and the Premier League. Key insights include: 2022 Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid attracted 12.6 million viewers on free YouTube stream. The illegal audience size remains uncertain due to multiple viewers per unique stream and potential viewership overlaps. 89% of ads on illegal streams were for unlicensed gambling brands in the UK, highlighting a link between piracy and unregulated gambling. GCI President Ismail Vali emphasized a growing connection between illegal streaming and unregulated gambling since the pandemic. TNT maintained its subscription-only model for the final, which had its kick-off time moved earlier to accommodate fans attending the match. Despite a significant rise in TNT’s viewing figures compared to last year's final, the earlier kick-off affected French viewership. Starmer, an Arsenal supporter, reiterated calls for free coverage alongside the Football Supporters’ Association. Historically, the Champions League finals were available free on ITV and BT Sport, raising concerns over access and fan engagement.

Source: The Guardian Sport - 2026-06-01