All Champions League games after the group stage will be available on both TNT and the B/R Live OTT serviceGETTY IMAGES
When Turner Sports begins its first season of UEFA Champions League and Europa League coverage this fall, the "vast majority" of games are "going to be behind a paywall" on the recently launched B/R Live OTT service, according to Paul DeBruler of SB NATION. There will be two Champions League group stage matches "per matchday on TNT," but the remainder of matches will be "behind the B/R Live paywall." All subsequent rounds will be "available on both TNT and B/R Live." But "every game" of Europa League coverage will be "behind a paywall" on B/R Live until the final on TNT. There will be a "pay-per-game option at $2.99/match," and complete coverage is $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year (SBNATION.com, 7/31). WORLD SOCCER TALK's Christopher Harris wrote the move by Turner creates a "seismic shift" in how consumers are offered these UEFA tournament matches in the U.S. It is in "stark contrast" to Fox Sports’ coverage of the Champions League, as they "showed 146 games per season on television." Fox also "had 205 Europa League matches on TV compared to TNT’s one" (WORLDSOCCERTALK.com, 7/31). AWFUL ANNOUNCING's Phillip Bupp wrote the per-match purchasing option is "going to be great for those who only want to watch their favorite team and nothing more." For cord cutters, this is a "great sign because unlike other sports networks, Turner’s OTT service will include matches that are also on TV instead of requiring both services in order to watch all matches" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 7/31). But Yahoo Sports' Leander Schaerlaeckens tweeted, "TNT showing 100 fewer Champions League games than FOX Sports did, and just one Europa League game, is a giant own-goal by UEFA. The value of this market is enormous, and it's just willingly cut its own exposure by well over 66%" (TWITTER.com, 7/31).
TEAM TAKING SHAPE: In N.Y., Andrew Marchand noted Turner has added USMNT G Tim Howard as an analyst for Champions League "studio coverage." Howard "will not work all the broadcasts, as he is still an active player" with the Rapids. Howard previously called EPL games on NBCSN. The Turner studio programs "will be hosted by Kate Abdo, who also works for Fox." Sources also said that Fox has "granted permission to its lead game analyst, Stu Holden, to discuss a deal with Turner to be in its studio" (NYPOST.com, 7/31).
