The UEFA Champions League has seen a major spike in viewership following the introduction of its revamped format for the 2024/25 season, according to new data from Nielsen Sports SA.

The expanded league phase, replacing the traditional group stage, has brought more competitive fixtures and a wider global audience.

Under the new system, 36 teams compete in a single league phase, each playing eight matches against different opponents based on seeding. This shift has increased competition and engagement, with total unique viewers rising by 57% compared to last season, reaching over 5.1 million. Live audiences have also climbed by 46% to 3.7 million, while overall watch time has soared by 72%, surpassing 24.7 million hours.

Matches featuring top European clubs have been central to this surge. Manchester City’s showdown with Real Madrid has been the most-watched match so far, drawing over 651,000 viewers, followed closely by Liverpool vs. Real Madrid at 642,000. Barcelona’s clash with Bayern Munich also ranked among the season’s biggest audience-pullers.

Broadcast coverage has expanded significantly, playing a crucial role in the competition’s growing reach. SuperSport has increased its dedicated Champions League channels from nine to 15, fueling a 65% rise in secondary broadcasts. DStv’s Family and Compact packages have recorded the highest growth, while SuperSport set a new record by simultaneously airing all 18 final league-phase matches across multiple platforms on January 29, 2025.

As the tournament heads into its decisive knockout rounds, audience numbers are expected to climb further, reinforcing the success of the new format and its ability to attract more football fans worldwide.

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