The Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL), governing body of German football, has once again surpassed the €1 billion mark in media rights revenue for the Bundesliga, with a substantial increase in its latest tender for the 2025-26 to 2028-29 seasons. The new deal will see the 36 Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs share €1.121 billion annually, amounting to a total of €4.484 billion over the four-year period. This marks an increase of approximately 2% compared to the previous rights cycle.
Key Highlights:
- Total Media Rights Revenue: €1.121 billion per season for 2025-26 to 2028-29
- Total Revenue Over Four Years: €4.484 billion
- Year-on-Year Increase: Around 2% compared to the previous cycle
DFL CEO’s Statement:
Steffen Merkel, CEO of DFL, expressed pride in the deal:
“The result of the tender underlines the unbroken popularity of German professional football, despite economically challenging times. Trust and unity within the league association have paid off. At the end of an intensive process, a very good and comprehensively secured financial result has now been achieved. The clubs now have planning security at a high financial level for another four years.”
Breakdown of Broadcasting Rights:
Pay-TV Broadcasting:
- Sky Deutschland:
- Coverage of single Bundesliga matches on Friday and Saturday, including the Saturday evening top match
- All Bundesliga 2 matches
- DAZN:
- Saturday conference (key moments from 4-5 Bundesliga matches)
- All Bundesliga single matches on Sunday (formerly held by Sky)
Free-to-Air TV Broadcasting:
- RTL:
- Bundesliga 2’s Saturday evening match
- Pay-TV rights for highlight clips of Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 matches
- Sat.1:
- Comprehensive live rights package, including Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 season openers, relegation play-offs, and the Supercup
- ARD:
- First showing of Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 highlights on free-to-air TV on Saturday evenings, Friday, and Sunday evenings
- ZDF:
- Second airing of Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 highlights on free-to-air TV on Saturday evenings
- First showing of highlights of the Bundesliga top match on free-to-air TV
- Sport1:
- Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 highlights from Friday and Saturday, airing Sunday mornings
Additional Rights:
- ZDF:
- Free-to-air highlights for matches in both leagues from Monday
- Axel Springer:
- Newly introduced short clip rights from Monday
- ARD:
- Audio rights in FM and web/mobile areas
Conclusion:
The DFL’s successful media rights tender for the next four years demonstrates the ongoing strength of German football, with new deals providing significant financial stability for the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs. The partnership between pay-TV broadcasters Sky and DAZN, as well as free-to-air broadcasters like RTL, Sat.1, ARD, and ZDF, ensures a wide and consistent media presence for Germany’s top football leagues.
