MPs make desperate plea to government about controversial TNT Sports decision

MPs have made an urgent appeal to the government to help reverse a TNT Sports decision that hides the elite games behind a paywall.

Ever since the Champions League was formed 34 years ago, the pinnacle of European football has always been available to view for free.

Aired on terrestrial television in the UK, the Champions League finals over the last three decades have attracted the masses, with even the most casual of fans tuning in.

However, TNT put a stop to this in 2026, as parent company Warner Bros moved the coverage of the Conference League, Europa League, and Champions League finals to HBO Max, a subscription service hosting TNT Sports.

But it might not be a decision that sticks around for many more years, as MPs have complained to the government to try and free the finals from the shackles of a paywall.

MPs call for Champions League final paywall reversal

The European finals have been a huge deal for British football fans this year, with Aston Villa's win over Freiburg on Wednesday night being the first of a possible hat-trick that could be rounded off by Crystal Palace and Arsenal.

Villa's 3-0 victory wasn't aired on free-to-access TV channels though, marking a significant turn for the sport's accessibility - or lack of.

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Now, Labour MP Jon Trickett has called on the government to intervene, as he claims, "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.

The call was echoed by Shadow Support Minister, Louie French, who said it would affect 'millions' of football fans.

"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,” French said.

It's highly likely that the Champions League final between Arsenal and PSG will stay behind the HBO Max subscription service, however, with Warner Bros stressing that the three finals would be available to watch from as little as £4.99 with a monthly pass.