For years, the narrative around competition in sports broadcasting has been that more broadcasters means more choice, better coverage, and greater innovation. But for many UK sports fans in 2025, the reality has been quite different: watching live sport has never been more expensive or fragmented. Instead of benefiting from competition, consumers are now juggling multiple subscriptions and still missing key moments from the sports they love.

The Fragmentation Problem

Once upon a time, a Sky Sports subscription covered most of what the average sports fan needed. Fast forward to today, and you’ll find sports rights scattered across a dizzying array of platforms: Sky Sports, TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport), Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, DAZN, Viaplay, Eurosport—the list keeps growing.

Each broadcaster or streaming service holds the rights to a portion of a sport or competition. For example:

• Premier League: Matches are split between Sky, TNT Sports, and Amazon.

• Champions League: Now shown exclusively on TNT Sports.

• Boxing: Spread across DAZN, TNT, Sky, and even individual pay-per-view platforms.

• Tennis and Formula 1: Sky dominates here, but key events like Wimbledon finals remain on BBC due to regulatory protections.

This fragmentation means fans need multiple subscriptions just to follow one sport, let alone multiple ones. If you’re a general sports fan, keeping up might cost well over £100 a month—and that’s before considering high-definition fees, device compatibility issues, and regional availability.

On a side note, it seems strange that people used to say “I dont want to pay all that to Sky”, but are now happy to pay subscription to multiple streaming providers instead.

More Expensive, Less Accessible

This multi-broadcaster model has raised serious concerns about accessibility and fairness. Live sport has always had a powerful unifying effect—gathering families, friends, and even communities. But as matches disappear behind different paywalls, it becomes harder for fans—especially those on lower incomes—to engage.

It’s no longer just about affordability either. Even fans who are willing to pay often find themselves missing out due to the sheer complexity of figuring out where a game is shown. Unlike the U.S., where bundled packages like ESPN+ or Peacock aim to consolidate rights, the UK market remains highly siloed and uncoordinated.

This model undermines a key principle: sport as a public good. It turns what used to be communal, accessible experiences into exclusive, fragmented commodities.

Crown Jewels: A Legacy That Needs Updating

The UK does have mechanisms to protect the most important events for free-to-air viewing. The so-called “Crown Jewels” list (officially, the “listed events” under the Broadcasting Act 1996) ensures that certain sporting events must be shown on free-to-air channels like the BBC or ITV.

Currently, the list includes:

• FIFA World Cup (men’s and women’s)

• UEFA European Championships

• FA Cup Final

• Wimbledon Finals

• The Grand National

• The Olympic Games

These are Category A events and must be available live on free-to-air TV. Category B events—like the Six Nations or the Cricket World Cup—can be sold to pay-TV providers, but there must be “adequate secondary coverage,” such as highlights on free-to-air channels.

But here’s the problem: this list hasn’t been meaningfully updated since 1998. In that time, the sports media landscape has undergone a digital revolution. The Premier League has grown into a global juggernaut. The Champions League has become essential viewing for millions. Yet neither are protected.

Time for Reform?

So what’s the solution? A growing number of fans, commentators, and politicians are calling for regulatory reform. Here are some ideas gaining traction:

1. Expand the Crown Jewels List

Events like the Premier League final day, the Champions League Final, or even domestic competitions like the Women’s Super League could be added to the protected list. These are moments of major national interest and cultural significance, and should be available to all.

2. Limit Rights Fragmentation

Ofcom or the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) could investigate whether excessive fragmentation of sports rights is anti-competitive or harmful to consumers. While full consolidation may not be legally feasible under current competition laws, regulators could encourage sub-licensing agreements to simplify access.

3. Encourage Unified Platforms

A model similar to Freeview, where digital sports rights could be pooled into one affordable streaming hub, could benefit fans. Some streaming companies have started exploring this in limited ways, but a coordinated push would require cooperation between regulators and rights holders.

Final Whistle

The idea that more broadcasters would be good for sports fans sounded great in theory—but the reality has proven more complicated. For many, it now means higher costs, more confusion, and reduced access to the games they love.

If sport is truly part of our national culture and identity, then it shouldn’t be gated behind a growing stack of paywalls. The time is right for the UK to revisit its sports broadcasting regulations and protect the public’s right to watch the moments that matter.