Stan Sports secures Champions League rights after Sports Flick drops out

Australian broadcaster Stan Sports has acquired exclusive broadcast rights to the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League in the country.

The Nine Entertainment-owned has secured a rights package with UEFA which will run from the 2021/22 Super Cup match on August 12 until the end of the 2023/24 season.

This deal replaces the one that UEFA had previously agreed with Sports Flick. Start-up Sports Flick made international headlines when it won the rights in a shock announcement in March. The company, whose catalogue mostly encompasses niche sports like Indian baseball, Nicaraguan league football and bare-knuckle boxing, had agreed a three-year deal worth US$46.4 million, but had to pull out after it was unable to secure financial backing. 

Terms of the Stan Sports deal have not been disclosed.

Martin Kugeler, the acting CEO of Stan, said: “Today’s multi-year partnership announcement with Uefa reflects Stan’s commitment to bringing premium sports to Australian fans. We can’t wait to showcase the most prestigious club football tournaments in the world and we thank Uefa for its trust in Stan to deliver their iconic football products to Australia.”