UEFA Champions League Highlights
This season’s UEFA Champions League has delivered a myriad of memorable broadcasting moments, such as CBS’s Micah Richards being humorously muted when discussing Stade Brest, Prime Video’s Alex Aljoe conducting a bilingual interview with Luis Diaz, and PSG’s coach Luis Enrique describing his league in unflattering terms during a TNT Sports interview.
Broadcasting Changes and New Format
This year’s tournament marked a significant shift in broadcasting, introducing a new 36-team structure, up from the previous 32, along with Prime Video taking over as the new UK broadcaster. This shift ended TNT Sports’ long-standing exclusive hold on Champions League coverage in Britain.
Season Reflections and Fan Engagement
As the finale approaches—a match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan scheduled to take place in Munich, Germany—analysts and broadcasters reflect on the season’s developments. The introduction of the league phase raised questions regarding the effectiveness of adding more teams and matches to the tournament’s format.
Pete Radovich, CBS’s coordinating producer for Champions League coverage, remarked on the success of the new format laid out by UEFA, emphasizing that despite additional complications, it proved to be a rewarding experience. CBS acknowledged the new league table for enhancing their program’s creativity. Radovich teased segments like “table time,” designed to engage viewers while combining education with entertainment, even prompting a viral dance moment involving their pundits Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards.
In response to fans’ desire for fresh content, they engaged with players like Robert Lewandowski, who humorously suggested reggaeton for their music selection, showcasing how audience engagement spurred innovative programming.
Prime Video’s Strategic Move
For Prime Video, securing the Champions League rights represented a pivotal moment, particularly after withdrawing from Premier League contracts in the UK. Alex Green, managing director of Prime Video sport in Europe, expressed how this new venture required familiarizing audiences with their offering, especially since Champions League coverage had primarily resided with a single network.
Over the course of the season, Prime Video’s dedication paid off, culminating in viewership figures surpassing expectations, notably during their second-leg match between PSG and Liverpool, which set a record with more than five million viewers.
Future Enhancement Considerations
CBS’s coverage also benefited from a strategic approach, achieving record viewership figures and integrating effective social media outreach into their broadcasting model. Radovich highlighted their successful media strategy, noting the impressive view count across social platforms, which illuminated how influential their presenters and memorable moments have become.
As the Champions League season wraps up, both CBS and Prime Video are already considering enhancements for the next year. While CBS focuses on striking a balance between traditional broadcasting and engaging social media content, Prime Video is committed to continuing their programming evolution and exploring new technologies, including AI and augmented reality, for audience growth and immersion.
With a solid legacy established during the current season, both broadcasters are focused on maintaining and elevating the excitement in future Champions League coverage.
