The German Football League (DFB) has successfully increased its revenue by renewing several long-standing media partnerships for the upcoming rights period.
Sky Deutschland, DAZN, and RTL will continue as media partners for the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2, with Sky and DAZN maintaining the majority of live match broadcasts.
The division of Pay-TV rights will see both the broadcaster and the OTT platform covering different aspects. Sky will broadcast individual matches on Fridays and Saturdays, including the premier evening game on the latter day, as well as all Bundesliga 2 games.
DAZN will provide coverage of the Saturday conference and all individual Bundesliga matches on Sunday in Germany and other DAZN territories, which include Austria, East Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, South Tyrol, and Switzerland.
These rights contracts span from the 2025/26 season to the 2028/29 season. The DFB notes that revenue from this cycle represents a 2% increase from the previous one, totaling €4.5 billion, or €1.1 billion per season.
Marc Lenz, CEO of the DFB, stated: “The financial stability gained through this agreement is crucial for the positive growth of both the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2.
“With this solid foundation, we must address economic, sporting, and political challenges, and continue developing our leagues in collaboration with the 36 clubs, ensuring they are prepared for the future.”
RTL is also a key player in this rights cycle, having obtained additional pay-TV rights for highlights of Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 games, along with free-to-air coverage of the Saturday evening match.
Several free-to-air rights holders will also share the remaining rights. Besides RTL, Sat.1 will feature the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 season openers, relegation play-offs, and the Super Cup.
Free-to-air highlight shows have been allocated among three broadcasters. ARD has acquired rights to show highlights of early Saturday evening, Friday evening, and Sunday evening games for both leagues.
ZDF will continue to broadcast the second highlight airing of Saturday evening games and the initial airing of top match highlights. Sport1 will deliver highlights of the Friday and Saturday games on Sunday morning.
DFB CEO Steffen Merkel remarked: “This tender’s outcome demonstrates the enduring appeal of German professional football, even in challenging economic climates.
“The unity and trust within our league association have proven fruitful. After an intense process, we have achieved a very secure financial result.
“The clubs can now plan confidently at a high financial level for the next four years. Fans will benefit from consistent coverage from our future partners in both pay and free-to-air markets.
“We extend our gratitude to all media partners for their strong commitment to our leagues. Together, the clubs and the DFL will work to uphold this trust by collaborating closely with our partners, helping them meet their objectives in the coming years.”