Starting a Football Content Channel in the UK (2026 Guide)

Football content on YouTube is enormous. The Premier League is the world's most-watched sports league, and UK football fans consume vast amounts of content beyond match broadcasts — analysis, opinions, transfer rumours, fan reactions, and historical content.

The opportunity is clear: millions of UK viewers want football content, and the barrier to entry for opinion and analysis content is low. You don't need a broadcasting licence to share your views on last night's match.

However, copyright is the critical issue. The Premier League, EFL, FA, and UEFA aggressively protect their broadcast footage. Using match highlights, stadium footage, or even certain images without permission will result in copyright strikes, demonetisation, and potentially legal action. Understanding what you can and can't use is essential before starting.

CPMs for football content vary widely. General football entertainment earns £1.50-£4 CPM. Football analysis and tactical content earns £3-£6. Football and sports betting content earns higher CPMs (£5-£10) due to gambling advertising, though accepting gambling sponsorships is an ethical decision.

The audience skews male (75-80%) and young (18-34), which is both an advantage (active demographic for advertisers) and a limitation (some advertisers avoid this demographic). Football content also has strong international appeal — Premier League fans in Africa, Asia, and the Americas watch UK football creators.

These formats navigate copyright restrictions while building audiences.

Opinion and analysis (talking head): You on camera discussing matches, transfers, and tactics. No match footage needed. This is the most common format for UK football YouTubers. Think AFTV (now AFTV Media), The United Stand, and countless fan channels.

Tactical analysis with graphics: Using tactical boards, heat maps, and diagrams to analyse matches and player performances. Platforms like TacticalPad provide tools for creating visual analysis without using copyrighted footage.

Fan reaction content: Recording your live reaction during matches or post-match analysis. This format is popular and doesn't require match footage — your face and voice are the content.

Football news and transfer discussion: Covering daily football news, transfer rumours, and breaking stories. Time-sensitive content that drives search traffic during transfer windows.

Historical content: Classic match retrospectives, player career reviews, and football history. Can use limited clips under fair use/fair dealing provisions (though this area is legally grey — use caution).

Fantasy Football and football gaming: FPL (Fantasy Premier League) tips, Football Manager content, and EA FC gameplay. Growing audiences with dedicated, engaged viewers.

Grassroots and non-league: Covering lower-league and non-league football. Less copyright restriction and a passionate, underserved audience. UK grassroots football content has grown significantly.

Faceless football content: AI tools like FluxNote can create football discussion and analysis content with voiceover, graphics, and legally-sourced images, avoiding copyright entirely while covering trending football topics.

Football content monetisation has specific characteristics and challenges.

Ad revenue: CPMs of £1.50-£6 depending on content type. Football content generates high view volumes, compensating for moderate CPMs. A football channel with 500K monthly views earns roughly £750-£3,000 from ads.

Brand sponsorships: Sports betting companies are the most aggressive sponsors in UK football content, but many creators avoid them on ethical grounds. Alternative sponsors include: sports equipment brands (Nike, Adidas, Puma), sports streaming services (TNT Sports, DAZN), football-related apps, sports nutrition brands, and gaming companies.

Merchandise: Football-related merchandise (channel-branded items, humorous football references) sells well to engaged fan audiences. Print-on-demand keeps costs low.

Patreon and memberships: Football audiences are loyal and vocal. Offering exclusive content, early access, or community features through Patreon or YouTube memberships converts well. UK football creators typically see 1-3% of subscribers converting to paid members.

Podcasting: Football podcasts are extremely popular in the UK. Podcast ad rates for sports content are competitive, and the format allows for longer-form discussion that works alongside short-form video content.

Matchday content and events: Organising fan meet-ups, charity matches, or matchday events. These build community and can generate ticket revenue.

Ethical note on gambling sponsorships: UK football content is heavily targeted by betting companies offering lucrative sponsorships. This is a personal decision, but be aware of ASA regulations, the growing backlash against gambling advertising in football, and your responsibility to a potentially young audience.