BT SPORT HAVE retained their exclusive UK rights to show Champions League and Europa League games but it has come at the cost of a significant price hike.

The broadcaster penned a new three-year deal with Uefa at a cost of €455 million per year, an increase on the €345 million they currently pay each season.

The new deal kicks off from the start of the 2018 season.

The deal does, however, give BT Sport exclusivity across all live games, highlights and in-match clips of both competitions for the first time.

The new agreement also sees the introduction of Champions League ‘double-header’ nights means BT Sport will show back-to-back matches during the group stage, with live matches kicking off at both 6pm and 8pm.

Another change for the 2018 season will see Europe’s top four domestic leagues guaranteed four places each in the group stages of the Champions League.

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