UEFA Nations League Broadcast Rights Shift to Amazon Prime: Fans Express Discontent
Get ready for more international football action as the UEFA Nations League is set to return to screens this Thursday, featuring exciting matchups with teams like Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Turkey, and Belgium all in the mix.
Football enthusiasts can look forward to Scotland’s away game against Greece, Republic of Ireland facing Bulgaria, Turkey competing with Hungary, and Belgium taking on Ukraine. Adding extra spice to the Belgium game, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has recently criticized a player who previously left the national team due to disagreements with the star keeper.
The excitement continues on Friday with high-stakes Nations League quarter-finals. Prepare for thrilling clashes including Netherlands versus Spain, Croatia against France, Denmark battling Portugal, and a classic encounter between Italy and Germany.
However, for UK viewers eager to watch these Nations League showdowns, there’s a change in broadcaster. England matches were previously broadcast on ITV, but now Amazon Prime Video has secured the rights to show UEFA Nations League games, taking over from Viaplay.
Amazon Prime Video announced the news on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “The UEFA Nations League is heading to Prime Video in the UK! Catch the action starting this Thursday with Netherlands v Spain & Italy v Germany, available for £2.49 per match – no additional subscription required to watch each game!”
“The tournament coverage will continue on Prime Video until its conclusion in June, ensuring fans don’t miss a moment of the Nations League.”
Spain celebrate winning the Nations League in 2023. Image: Getty
Pay-Per-Match Anger: Football Fans React to Amazon Nations League Pricing
Despite the excitement of the Nations League coming to Amazon Prime, there’s a significant detail that has sparked outrage amongst football fans on social media. It turns out that watching the UEFA Nations League on Amazon Prime in the UK will come at an additional cost of £2.49 per match.
This pay-per-match model means that even existing Amazon Prime subscribers, who already pay for the platform’s services, will need to pay extra to watch each individual Nations League game. This unexpected charge has not been well-received, to say the least.
The reaction online has been swift and critical, with numerous fans voicing their displeasure. Here’s a snapshot of what fans are saying:
- One X user commented: “2.49 per match? Read the room lads.” – highlighting the perceived insensitivity of the pricing.
- Another tweet sarcastically stated: “Would pay money not to watch the Nations League,” expressing a lack of value and frustration.
- A third fan echoed the sentiment: “Again, no one is paying extra to watch these matches as prime subscribers,” emphasizing the feeling of being unfairly charged.
- And a fourth comment bluntly put it: “£2.49 per GAME!? That’s insanely stupid,” showcasing the shock and anger at the pricing structure.
While this move for the Nations League has caused friction, it’s worth noting Amazon Prime’s increasing presence in football broadcasting. They have also secured significant rights for other prestigious competitions. Already, Amazon Prime has broadcasting rights for the Champions League, marking a major entry into top-tier European club football.
Furthermore, Amazon has been making inroads into Premier League coverage, breaking the long-standing duopoly of TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport) and Sky Sports in 2018. Amazon secured rights to 17 first-pick Champions League matches on Tuesday nights, a deal lasting until 2027.
Recently, Amazon Prime also broadcasted the Premier League’s Boxing Day fixtures, further solidifying their commitment to football coverage.
Despite Amazon’s growing football portfolio, the pay-per-match model for the UEFA Nations League is a clear departure from typical subscription-based streaming and has clearly left a sour taste with many fans. Will you be paying the extra £2.49 per match to watch the Nations League on Amazon Prime? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!