TV rights sales: Bundesliga passes billion euro milestone

The broadcasting rights from the 2017/18 season onwards have been sold, and the Bundesliga can be delighted with new record revenues. The German Football League (DFL) announced in Frankfurt on Thursday that it will receive a total of €4.64 billion over the course of four years, which amounts to an average annual revenue of €1.159 billion for the 36 Bundesliga clubs.

“The outcome of the tender is a crucial step regarding the future viability of German top-class football. The Bundesliga is now in an ideal position to maintain its position among the three football leagues with the highest turnover and present sport at the highest level,” DFL CEO Christian Seifert commented on the record result after the general meeting.

“It's an excellent, even outstanding result,” a delighted FC Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge commented. The total distributed among the clubs in the 2013/14-2016/17 period is €2.51 billion, €628 million per seasonon average. The DFL board will decide on the exact distribution among the clubs in the coming season.

ZDF to broadcast matches live on free TV

Not much will change for the consumer. Sky continues to be the main partner with regard to pay TV. However, Sky has lost a total of 45 Bundesliga matches to Eurosport, which will broadcast the 30 Friday matches, five Sunday and five Monday matches, the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 relegation matches and the Supercup. The no-single-buyer rule imposed by the Cartel Office has been met.

On free TV ARD Sportschau continues to report on Saturdays from 18:30 CET. ZDF purchased the free TV live matches on Matchdays 1, 17 and 18 as well as the Bundesliga 2 relegation matches and the Supercup.

The free TV rights for the Bundesliga 2 highlights on Friday and Saturday, currently held by Sport1, and a new format on Monday evening comprising condensed reports on all Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 matches, have not been sold yet. The reserve price has not been met in both cases. “We'll have further talks and assign the rights in the coming weeks,” said Seifert.