FOOTBALL

Women’s Champions League matches to be behind paywall

DAZN says it wanted to grow the audience for the competition before making the move
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Molly Hudson
The Times
Arsenal face Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the competition this season, which was free to watch on YouTube
Arsenal face Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the competition this season, which was free to watch on YouTube
TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER MARC ASPLAND
Molly Hudson
The Times

The majority of games in next season’s Women’s Champions League will be broadcast behind a paywall.

DAZN has worked with YouTube to air the competition for free since winning the rights for the 2021-22 season, after which research showed that 64 million viewers from more than 230 countries and territories tuned into its coverage.

However, next season, 42 of the 61 games in the competition’s group and knockout stage will be shown on the company’s subscription service, which costs £9.99 a month.

The remaining 19 matches will remain free to access on YouTube, including the final, one semi-final and two of the quarter-finals. The qualification rounds, which two English teams will play in — most likely to be Manchester United and Arsenal — remain without