Arsenal vs Paris Saint-Germain is due to be the first Champions League final not televised for free in the United Kingdom
Keir Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer wants TNT Sports to make their Champions League final coverage available for free
View 2 Images
Sir Keir Starmer has again called on TNT Sports to air the Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain for free. The Prime Minister has already written a letter to the broadcaster urging them to make their coverage available to non-subscribers.
TNT, and their predecessor BT Sport, have previously always shown the match for free every year since acquiring the television rights from ITV a decade ago. They initially did so by simultaneously broadcasting the final live on YouTube.
More recently, they have made the coverage available for free on Discovery+. However, after moving to HBO Max, they are not.
Starmer has now spoken to talkSPORT about the situation, saying: "I just think it should be free, it's always been free every year up to this year, and I say this not as an Arsenal fan, all fans want to watch the Champions League final.
"It's a big event, it should be free, and that's why I wrote to them to say 'please make it free', I renew that actually, I really do think they should do that, I think it's the right thing to do."
Starmer previously said in a post on X: " Football should bring people together, not shut them out.
Sir Keir Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer has yet to force TNT Sports into a U-Turn(Image: Getty)
View 2 Images
"For the first time since the competition began, fans won't be able to watch the Champions League final for free. That's not right. This is bigger than wanting to watch Arsenal in this historic final. It's bigger than one club.
"Hardworking people shouldn't have to fork out for a subscription to watch this match. I urge TNT Sports to reconsider and make the final next Saturday free to watch."
The PM echoed those sentiments in his letter to TNT Sports. Starmer wrote: "The Champions League is the biggest club football competition in the world and rightly means a lot to fans in this country - the home of football.
Secure your ultimate European discount before the final whistle with 76% off NordVPN
The ultimate showdown is here. Premeir League champions Arsenal are on the march in the Champions League final this weekend, ready to fight for Europe's biggest prize.
Now is your chance to make your own championship-winning play, by switching to NordVPN. But just like the race to the final whistle, there’s a strict deadline to lock in this world-class deal.
Our Champions League coverage is brought to you in association with NordVPN, the UK's number one VPN according to TechRadar.
A VPN protects your internet connection and online privacy by creating an encrypted tunnel for your data and hiding your IP address, allowing you to safely stream the big match even on public Wi-Fi. With NordVPN, you can block malicious websites, stop web trackers, and monitor data leaks all in one app.
"I am a firm believer that the final of this competition should remain free to watch, whether Arsenal have made it or not. 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.
"Hardworking people should not have to worry about forking out for a subscription to watch a game of this magnitude. We should be putting supporters first.
"That is why I have already encouraged FIFA to do more to make tickets more affordable at this summer's World Cup. That is also why I want to strongly urge you to reconsider and make the final next Saturday free to watch for the millions of passionate football fans in this country."
TNT Sports said in a statement: "We have made all three UEFA finals this year available from just £4.99, the price for a month-long subscription to HBO Max."
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image
Content Image