When the Champions League final kicked off, so did a media explosion on social that few truly measured. Over a four-day window surrounding each of the major finals — Women’s Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, and Champions League — Ripple Analytics captured every social video and image posted across owned (UEFA-operated), affiliate (teams, players, sponsors), and UGC channels.
The result? 17B social views and impressions, €378M in partner media value, and 123K uploads of which 98% came from channels outside of UEFA’s control.
This data allows UEFA to gain deeper insights into the scale and composition of their events on social media, while this report breaks down where that value came from — and how brands can harness it going forward.
Champions League Final Drove 63% of All UEFA Finals Views
The Champions League Final generated nearly two-thirds of the total views across UEFA’s four competition finals — a singular moment with unmatched social media exposure.
Why It Matters: Marketers can prioritize content and partnership placement around peak events to maximize visibility.
Earned Content Drove 90% of Media Value
Content from UGC and Affiliates drove nearly all of UEFA partner value at each event — signaling a major blind spot in traditional reporting.
Why It Matters: Tracking only owned content underrepresents true brand exposure — a critical issue for sponsors.
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There is Power and Value in Placement
Lower level banner and media backdrops powered 88% in value for UEFA partners due to their high visibility in gameplay and post-game recaps.
Why It Matters: High-visibility placements offer exponential value when distributed across earned channels.
Media Value Was Driven by Non-Owned Channels
UEFA’s top partners on average earned 83% of their media value from earned channels, with 25% specifically from UGC.
Why It Matters: Without fingerprinting tech like Ripple, the majority of content valuation on social media goes undetected and unvalued.
Understanding the Ripple Effect on Social Media
- Expand Your Social Tracking: If you’re only tracking your posts, you’re missing 98% of the value.
- Prioritize High-Visibility Assets: LED boards and media backdrops offer high recurring exposure across platforms.
- Leverage Peak Events: Finals and marquee moments offer unmatched return — focus efforts here.
- Understand the Ecosystem: Affiliates and UGC creators shape perception — treat them as performance drivers.
- Use Data to Justify Investment: Sponsorship and creative budgets can be better defended with full-scope data.
Discover Your Content, Everywhere
Social media tells a story that traditional media analytic tools can’t capture. Platforms thrive on dynamic interactions, real-time engagement, and viral UGC moments. Ripple Analytics is the only technology company that tracks how content flows across social media channels and platforms, no matter the source. Discover how to tap into the power of organic uploads and accurately measure your content’s performance.
“This report is a reminder that social reach isn’t linear — and it’s not confined to your owned channels. A lot of the value lies in what you don’t see. With MediaTrack, we make the invisible visible, giving brands and rights holders a complete view of performance and ROI, no matter who posts the content.”
AMOS VARON
Chief Revenue Officer / Ripple Analytics
