European football’s governing body is altering its broadcast strategy across Eastern Europe, with Romanian group Clever Media advancing to exclusive negotiations to secure the media rights for UEFA’s men’s club competitions in Moldova. The target agreement encompasses four full seasons, spanning the 2027-28 cycle through to 2030-31. Emerging as the preferred candidate following a formal bidding window, the Bucharest-based media outfit is now positioned to deliver continental action—including the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League—to Moldovan audiences.
The push toward exclusive talks comes directly out of a competitive commercial process managed by UEFA alongside Relevent Football Partners. Serving as the commercial sales agent through 2033, Relevent handles business operations for UC3, the joint-venture rights sales entity formed between UEFA and European Football Clubs (EFC). If the agreement goes through as anticipated, it’ll mark a clear transition in Moldovan sports broadcasting. Currently, pay-TV operator Jurnal TV holds the local UEFA club competition rights, but that existing deal is set to expire at the conclusion of the 2026-27 season.
Clever Media isn’t a new player to European football broadcasting, having already built a prominent presence in its home market. In Romania, the company operates the Prima Sport channel network, which shared domestic rights for the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League alongside Digi Sport during the previous rights cycle. Extending its reach into Moldova represents a logical progression for Clever Group. The company has already established a foundation in the Moldovan market by launching Prima TV Moldova, a general entertainment channel modeled on its Romanian format, along with Cinemaraton Moldova, a movie platform highlighting Romanian and Moldovan cinema.
The timing of these negotiations coincides with the kickoff of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League group stages, which got underway earlier this month. As administrators map out long-term revenues, locking down territory rights for the 2027-31 period remains crucial. While DIGI Romania has emerged as the preferred bidder for Champions League rights in Romania for that same 2027-31 cycle, Clever Media’s focus on Moldova ensures the group secures vital regional territory. Final discussions between UC3 and Clever Media will complete the broadcast map as European club football moves toward its next commercial era.
