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UK broadcaster BT Sport recorded 4.8 million viewers across digital platforms for its coverage of the recent all-English Uefa Champions League final.
Figures released by the pay-TV network reveal that digital viewership for the game, which saw Liverpool edge Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in Madrid, has grown by 166 per cent since 2016, when 1.8 million viewers tuned in across various online platforms.
The 4.8 million viewers, who were able to watch the match via the BT Sport app and website, as well as via the BT Sport YouTube channel, contributed to a record overall audience of 11.3 million, nearly 3 million more than for last year’s final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
BT, which has been showing European soccer’s premier club competition and the second-tier Europa League since 2015, made a promise to show the finals of both competitions for free when it last extended its rights deal with Uefa until 2021 for UK£1.2 billion back in 2017.
The Champions League had not been available on free-to-air television in the UK since BT secured the rights ahead of the 2015/16 season, although the broadcaster has streamed its coverage of the final on YouTube for the last three seasons and made this year's edition available for free to those with access to its linear channels.
“This season's Champions League and Europa League have been a great success for BT,” said BT marketing director Pete Oliver.
“Both finals were of huge interest with four English teams competing, which has never been done before in the history of both tournaments and came at the end of a season featuring incredibly entertaining matches that captivated the nation.”
BT Sport recorded 4.8 million viewers across digital platforms for its coverage of this month’s all-English Uefa Champions League final
UK broadcaster BT Sport recorded 4.8 million viewers across digital platforms for its coverage of the recent all-English Uefa Champions League final.
Figures released by the pay-TV network reveal that digital viewership for the game, which saw Liverpool edge Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in Madrid, has grown by 166 per cent since 2016, when 1.8 million viewers tuned in across various online platforms.
The 4.8 million viewers, who were able to watch the match via the BT Sport app and website, as well as via the BT Sport YouTube channel, contributed to a record overall audience of 11.3 million, nearly 3 million more than for last year’s final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
BT, which has been showing European soccer’s premier club competition and the second-tier Europa League since 2015, made a promise to show the finals of both competitions for free when it last extended its rights deal with Uefa until 2021 for UK£1.2 billion back in 2017.
The Champions League had not been available on free-to-air television in the UK since BT secured the rights ahead of the 2015/16 season, although the broadcaster has streamed its coverage of the final on YouTube for the last three seasons and made this year's edition available for free to those with access to its linear channels.
“This season's Champions League and Europa League have been a great success for BT,” said BT marketing director Pete Oliver.
“Both finals were of huge interest with four English teams competing, which has never been done before in the history of both tournaments and came at the end of a season featuring incredibly entertaining matches that captivated the nation.”
