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To as a connected mumsnetter to lobby the govt to make The Champions League Final free to view for all UK citizens?

127 replies

mumofoneAloneandwell · 20/05/2026 20:04

Football is a working class sport at its heart. No child should be prevented from watching a major sporting final because they can't afford to!

Edit - ask**

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Words · 23/05/2026 19:58

You seem terribly invested in my non existent horse ownership. And yes I have lived in an inner London council flat, for around three years, albeit decades ago.

You sound just as closed minded as you accuse me of being, quite frankly.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 23/05/2026 20:20

JustGiveMeReason · 22/05/2026 21:30

It really is.

You can like more than one type of game you know.

We have season tickets and are happy to watch red ball or white ball.

We go to the T20s, and always try to get to a test match, and, when I get time am happy to go to a County game. Shockingly, we even enjoy The Hundred.

I don't get the need to put down other games that people have. Rugby fans are notorious for it, and there is a certain group of cricket fans the same. Nobody is making you watch it, but the money it brings in is propping up the County game, and that alone should be respected, before you start looking at the number of younger fans that love it.

I love cricket and I've watched it for years, my Dad was also a big fan. The hundred is not proper cricket - at least T20 has the proper 6 balls an over! The hundred is ruining test cricket by taking up the whole of August.

I still haven't forgotten Andrew Strauss for saying the hundred is for women and people who want a shorter form of cricket - if someone finds T20 too long then cricket really isn't the game for them!

BitOutOfPractice · 23/05/2026 20:27

Are you one of those big team fans who miss about the “agony” of supporting a big team. It must be hard supporting arsenal or Man Utd or Chelsea or Man City said no Coventry, Southend, Sheffield Wednesday, Blackpool or Lincoln fan ever.

Here’s my tiny violin. 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

JustGiveMeReason · 23/05/2026 20:34

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 23/05/2026 20:20

I love cricket and I've watched it for years, my Dad was also a big fan. The hundred is not proper cricket - at least T20 has the proper 6 balls an over! The hundred is ruining test cricket by taking up the whole of August.

I still haven't forgotten Andrew Strauss for saying the hundred is for women and people who want a shorter form of cricket - if someone finds T20 too long then cricket really isn't the game for them!

I don't get the snobbery though.

Sevens is different from a full 15 player rugby game.
5-a-side and futsal is different from a full 11-a-side football game.
Walking football / cricket is different from regular football/cricket.
Indoor athletics is different from outdoor athletics.

That's fine.
If you only want to watch one form of any sport, crack on.
There will be different people who enjoy a different sport from you.
Some of us like watching all forms of sport. That is okay too.

I'm not sure what people get out of sneering at other people's choices.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 23/05/2026 20:41

JustGiveMeReason · 23/05/2026 20:34

I don't get the snobbery though.

Sevens is different from a full 15 player rugby game.
5-a-side and futsal is different from a full 11-a-side football game.
Walking football / cricket is different from regular football/cricket.
Indoor athletics is different from outdoor athletics.

That's fine.
If you only want to watch one form of any sport, crack on.
There will be different people who enjoy a different sport from you.
Some of us like watching all forms of sport. That is okay too.

I'm not sure what people get out of sneering at other people's choices.

I'm not sneering at anyone watching the hundred or any other sport, watch what you like, but when it's ruining other forms of the sport there's an issue.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 23/05/2026 20:57

Keir

To as a connected mumsnetter to lobby the govt to make The Champions League Final free to view for all UK citizens?
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BeardySchnauzer · 23/05/2026 21:01

🙄 maybe he should speak to the owners of his beloved arsenal instead as they’ll still be expecting their payout however it’s televised

murasaki · 23/05/2026 21:39

We've got Prince William in our corner and it wasn't free to air for our final.....

mumofoneAloneandwell · 23/05/2026 21:52

I reckon it'll be free to air, the big wigs will backtrack 👀

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murasaki · 23/05/2026 21:55

Well that'll really piss me right off, if Arsenal get that and not Villa and Palace.

Mind you, we know our place. Oh yes, it's double qualified for the champions league.....

LittlePetitePsychopath · 23/05/2026 22:01

mumofoneAloneandwell · 23/05/2026 21:52

I reckon it'll be free to air, the big wigs will backtrack 👀

They probably will because of the publicity but they’ve made it chargeable for the first time because TNT have lost the rights to Paramount, so they are seeing it as the last chance to squeeze any income possible out of that deal.

LittlePetitePsychopath · 23/05/2026 22:03

BeardySchnauzer · 23/05/2026 21:01

🙄 maybe he should speak to the owners of his beloved arsenal instead as they’ll still be expecting their payout however it’s televised

It’s nothing to do with Arsenal. TNT own the broadcast rights. They have always obeyed UEFA’s “suggestion” that the finals are free to air. They have disagreed this time, because UEFA have awarded the ongoing rights to someone else.

It remains to be seen whether this is a good way to get publicity and first party data and they are going to make it free to air once they’ve got enough publicity around it, or if they’re trying to maximise income from the rights before they lose them, but it’s not a decision Arsenal or any other team have anything to do with.

BeardySchnauzer · 23/05/2026 22:18

LittlePetitePsychopath · 23/05/2026 22:03

It’s nothing to do with Arsenal. TNT own the broadcast rights. They have always obeyed UEFA’s “suggestion” that the finals are free to air. They have disagreed this time, because UEFA have awarded the ongoing rights to someone else.

It remains to be seen whether this is a good way to get publicity and first party data and they are going to make it free to air once they’ve got enough publicity around it, or if they’re trying to maximise income from the rights before they lose them, but it’s not a decision Arsenal or any other team have anything to do with.

No but they could come to a financial agreement with TNT

or uefa could give the rights with it mandated the final is free to view

HobGobblynne · 24/05/2026 07:53

murasaki · 23/05/2026 18:08

I can't imagine Arsenal's bus parade will match Villa's, they're too media trained. Our was streamed live on YouTube, they were all pissed, and it was the most joyous funny thing ever. Total vibes.

The Arsenal women’s champions league parade was pretty funny last year, Katie McCabe was very drunk, stole the mic from the tv host and was singing all the players chants while balancing on the railings. I imagine she had a banging headache the next day 🙈

LittlePetitePsychopath · 24/05/2026 11:46

BeardySchnauzer · 23/05/2026 22:18

No but they could come to a financial agreement with TNT

or uefa could give the rights with it mandated the final is free to view

They can’t come to an individual agreement. That would breach both the TNT and the Champions League rules.

UEFA should absolutely have awarded the rights on the basis of the finals being free. The winner has complied with the standard for years and years, though…

mumofoneAloneandwell · 29/05/2026 20:19

No update everyone

To as a connected mumsnetter to lobby the govt to make The Champions League Final free to view for all UK citizens?
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mumofoneAloneandwell · 29/05/2026 23:42

Just bumping this, as there is still no update on it being free to air

It looks as though a £5 subscription to HBO Max is necessary, although it might cost £10!

To as a connected mumsnetter to lobby the govt to make The Champions League Final free to view for all UK citizens?
OP posts:
murasaki · 30/05/2026 00:25

It's definitely 4.99 for hbo, I did it before the Villa final so could watch all 3. I don't see why Arsenal should be free if the others weren't, although I think all 3 should have been. If you have prime you can do it through there so it sits with your subs on amazon, no need to download an app and is easy to cancel.....also includes TV shows for the month, so not that bad value. I'll be cancelling mine post match but will still have access for the rest of the month. And now I know it exists, may well activate it again re the champions league next year. No contract is a boon.

Blundl · 30/05/2026 06:32

I get the free HBO max with Sky which is the absolute bottom tier and it looks like it's on there so it will be £4.99 if that's the lowest one

mumofoneAloneandwell · 30/05/2026 14:18

murasaki · 30/05/2026 00:25

It's definitely 4.99 for hbo, I did it before the Villa final so could watch all 3. I don't see why Arsenal should be free if the others weren't, although I think all 3 should have been. If you have prime you can do it through there so it sits with your subs on amazon, no need to download an app and is easy to cancel.....also includes TV shows for the month, so not that bad value. I'll be cancelling mine post match but will still have access for the rest of the month. And now I know it exists, may well activate it again re the champions league next year. No contract is a boon.

Thank you - I didnt know about these previous matches that weren't aired! How awful

I'll do the same 😄, sign up and cancel

That said, i do get max free with my nowtv, but cant see the match on the app 🤔🤔🤔

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murasaki · 30/05/2026 14:21

mumofoneAloneandwell · 30/05/2026 14:18

Thank you - I didnt know about these previous matches that weren't aired! How awful

I'll do the same 😄, sign up and cancel

That said, i do get max free with my nowtv, but cant see the match on the app 🤔🤔🤔

If you get it already, it should be there, have you looked specifically under sports, or searched specifically for champions league? Worth a try. On amazon it was under the sports menu for me.

Blundl · 30/05/2026 15:29

Have you found it, the Now HBO should be the same as the Sky one, (the basic one) on my Sky page of what on, it's on today's top picks and is at the top on the HBO app now when I open it

mumofoneAloneandwell · 30/05/2026 15:33

Blundl · 30/05/2026 15:29

Have you found it, the Now HBO should be the same as the Sky one, (the basic one) on my Sky page of what on, it's on today's top picks and is at the top on the HBO app now when I open it

Thank you @Blundl @murasaki I found it!! 🥰🥰

For anyone who has nowtv, its on there via hbo for no extra cost

I paid 3.99 per month for now tv but tied in for a year

Ive got it on but am now rushing making sure the living room is all set up 😫😫😫

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mumofoneAloneandwell · 30/05/2026 15:46

mumofoneAloneandwell · 30/05/2026 15:33

Thank you @Blundl @murasaki I found it!! 🥰🥰

For anyone who has nowtv, its on there via hbo for no extra cost

I paid 3.99 per month for now tv but tied in for a year

Ive got it on but am now rushing making sure the living room is all set up 😫😫😫

🙄🙄 just had to upgrade so that dd can watch 'my friend maisy' at the same time 😄😄

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