UEFA launches free-to-air OTT service

Bundesliga to be the first league to offer content on UEFA.tv

UEFA has officially launched its new OTT streaming platform, UEFA.tv, offering both live and on-demand video content from a variety of football competitions and tournaments.

The service will initially show original programming based on 60 years of the federation’s European football archive.

It will also become the home of youth, women’s and futsal UEFA competitions by offering live coverage in relevant markets and will also serve to promote all of UEFA competitions by offering behind the scenes content, interviews and other additional content.

In the future, supporters will be given the opportunity to watch live UEFA competition matches when there is no rights-holder in the territory where they are living.

Starting next season, the Bundesliga will be the first national league to be shown on UEFA.tv. This follows an agreement between UEFA and the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) that will result in the provision of a separate channel on the streaming platform with videos from the Bundesliga in addition to European competitions.

This service will be available from the launch and will include Monday highlights of weekend matches and shows such as the “Bundesliga Special”. In addition, archives of past top Bundesliga matches and UEFA Champions League matches involving German teams will be available.

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said of the launch: “The digital landscape is evolving and we need to be in a position where we can anticipate and respond to these changes.

“UEFA is an innovative organisation and by introducing this platform, we will be making football and our competitions more accessible to supporters around the world. Our partnership with the Bundesliga is yet another example of the unity of European football and clearly demonstrates our desire to address future opportunities together for the promotion of our sport.”

The Bundesliga content on UEFA.tv will be available in the UK, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain and Turkey as well as the Middle East and Africa.

“Media use is changing constantly,” said DFL chief executive Christian Seifert. “UEFA’s new streaming service is a very timely step to reach football fans around the world, especially younger target groups.”

“The DFL has consistently backed and initiated technological and media innovations ever since it was founded. “We are therefore delighted to be the first national league partner in this project, which will allow us to get even more people around the world excited about the Bundesliga in the future.”

In a statement, UEFA said that it will not be competing with other TV channels but would rather be “complementary” by “taking advantage of the wide range of content” available at UEFA, including archive footage, delayed games, magazine programmes or futsal, women’s and grassroots competitions.

UEFA.tv is available on the web at www.uefa.tv and on mobile and iOS and Android apps.

All the video content will be free-to-view, although users will have to register.