Article 79 Audiovisual rights-holder facilities - Champions League

Regulations of the UEFA Champions League

Content Type
Competition Regulations
Category
Clubs
Subject
UCL
Edition
2022/23
Language
English
Enforcement Date
31 August 2022
79.01

Clubs involved in the UEFA Champions League and/or the play-offs have certain obligations towards the host broadcaster and other audiovisual rights holders for these matches. Audiovisual rights-holder facilities to be provided by the club are defined below, with the camera positions explained in detail in Annex E.

79.02

The clubs must provide the audiovisual rights holders, free of charge, with the necessary technical assistance, facilities, power and access for technical personnel.

79.03

UEFA media requirements include, but are not limited to, the facilities defined below. Clubs may not charge the audiovisual rights holders and/or the UEFA audio media partners for any general installation costs relating to their production requirements.

79.04

Clubs are required to provide the facilities, including, where necessary, through the removal of seats and the non-sale of tickets, for the construction of camera platforms, studios and commentary positions. Any temporary construction such as scaffolding must be checked and approved by the relevant safety authorities. Production plans, including camera and commentary positions, will be confirmed to the clubs five days before the match at the latest.

79.05

Up to 30 commentary positions are required for play-offs and group matches, up to 45 for the round of 16 matches and quarter-finals and 50 for the semi-finals. Commentary positions must have three seats each, be located between the 16m lines in the same stand as the main cameras and be equipped with the necessary power, lighting and phone connections, as well as the necessary restricted-access (not public) internet connectivity to support the use of WebCIS throughout the commentary positions. The commentary positions must be secure and not accessible to the general public. In addition, a total of 15 observer seats must be available for play-offs and group matches, and a total of 30 observer seats for knockout matches.

79.06

Two additional commentary positions, one for each team, must be made available and reserved for the clubs’ technical filming. The location and requirements of these positions are the same as for other commentary positions. These positions will be released back to the home club if not required.

79.07

Clubs must provide space for the installation of a statistical data collection system as defined by UEFA.

79.08

During the play-offs and group stage and at the request of audiovisual rights holders, clubs must provide at least the following:

  1. One "indoor" studio individually enclosed and measuring at least 5m x 5m x 2.3m. The studio should be close to the dressing rooms to allow easy access for coach and player interviews.

  2. One "pitch view" studio (at least 5m x 5m x 2.3m of open and usable space), with an unrestricted view of the field of play, e.g. an executive box, or space for such a studio to be installed, if safety and security considerations permit.

  3. A second "pitch view" studio (at least 5m x 5m x 2,3m of open and usable space with an unrestricted view of the field of play) or a presentation platform with an unrestricted view of the field of play (at least 3m x 3m of secured and usable space) is required only if the position already exists in the stadium. Should a second position with a view of the pitch not exist in the stadium, its construction will be only requested if this does not entail any additional loss of seats for the club. UEFA may instead request a presentation platform among the commentary positions, should the full allocation not be required for a given match. If none of the above solutions can be implemented, the club must provide a second "indoor" studio (at least 5m x 5m x 2.3m, individually enclosed with easy access for coaches and players).

79.09

During the knockout stage, in agreement with UEFA, clubs must meet the same minimum requirements as for the group stage and provide one extra studio or presentation platform from those listed in Paragraph 79.08.

79.10

Clubs must provide space for at least five flash-interview positions for play-offs and group matches, at least eight for the round of 16 matches and quarter-finals and at least ten for the semi-finals. These should be located between the substitutes’ benches and the dressing rooms and should each measure 3m x 4m.

79.11

Clubs must ensure that pre-match, half-time and post-match pitchside presentations can be conducted by audiovisual rights holders. To this end, clubs must make space available next to the playing surface. This space should be split into no more than two areas, each area totalling a minimum of 15m x 3m.

79.12

Clubs must make any existing power supply available in the outside broadcast (OB) van area. In addition, clubs must provide the required power to commentary positions, pitch-view studios, pitchside presentation positions, the referee review area (if applicable), indoor studios and flash interview areas. The above mentioned power must be provided free of charge.

79.13

Clubs must make available and bear the rental cost of up to four internet lines in the outside broadcast (OB) van area for use by UEFA’s graphics supplier, GLT supplier (if applicable), VAR system and transmission distribution supplier (if applicable) as of the day before the matchday.

79.14

A parking area of at least 1,000m² of useable space must be provided for play-offs and group matches and of at least 2,300m² of useable space for the round of 16 matches and quarter-finals. For the semi-finals, 2,800m² of usable space is required, 500m² of which (OB van area extension) can be in a separate location to the 2,300m² (OB van area) if 2,800m² cannot be secured in one location. Some matches with high media interest might require more space than the amounts set out above. Clubs shall provide full support to meet these needs, taking into account the useable space available. The parking area should be on the same side as the main cameras and must be made secure from the public. The surface and the layout of such space must also be suitable for parking any OB vehicles.

79.15

All security measures that may be reasonably required to safeguard and control the audiovisual rights-holder areas (including the OB van area) are the responsibility of the club. The security of all audiovisual rights-holder areas is the responsibility of the club. These areas must not be accessible to the public and should have 24-hour manned security from the start of installations to the departure of all audiovisual rights-holder personnel and equipment.

79.16

Clubs must provide the necessary cabling infrastructure (e.g. cable bridges, trenches) to enable the audiovisual rights holders to install all cables safely and securely. Moreover, where requested, access to pre-cabled systems in stadiums should be free of charge to all audiovisual rights holders.