UEFA has submitted on TV rights and also presented new partners. The European Cup games will start at 2021, especially on Amazon, DAZN and the RTL streaming service TV Now. What happens to the Bundesliga now?
Berlin (dpa) - This Monday begins the most valuable weeks in the Bundesliga. The media rights auction, which has been postponed for six weeks because of the corona crisis, is starting - and is set to flush even more billions into the coffers from 2021.
What is being sold?
The German Football League (DFL) has announced the media rights for the seasons from 2021/2022 to 2024/2025. There are primarily seven audiovisual live rights packs and seven time-shifted rights packs for sale. For the first time, the rights are also granted for Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and South Tyrol.
How much money is it about?
The last auction to date generated 4.64 billion euros for four seasons. In the coming season - due to an increase in each season - around 1.36 billion euros will be distributed. If the league wants to maintain this annual level in the next four years, the new contract must bring in almost 20 percent more. DFL managing director Christian Seifert said: "Growth is possible." However, Seifert considers a further increase of more than 80 percent, as four years ago, "very unlikely".
What are the most valuable rights?
The league earns the most money in the pay area, which accounts for about 80 percent of the revenue. The four - instead of the previous five - live packages of the new tender for pay providers include three on Saturday: the conference (A), the 3:30 p.m. games (B) and the top games at 6:30 p.m. (C). The fourth package includes the games on Friday and Sunday (D).
Could it be that fans will soon need several subscriptions?
In extreme cases, four subscriptions are required to watch all games live and to see the conference. "In theory, that's possible," said Holger Blask, DFL Director Audiovisual Rights. This is not desirable, but is an option due to the rules agreed with the cartel office. Seifert said: "We have parts in our own hands, but not completely." Put simply, the company that offers the most for a package gets it.
What are the effects of the corona crisis?
Pay companies like Sky and DAZN suffer from a lack of live sports. Nevertheless, Mainz board member Jan Lehmann said in a video conference from "nextMedia.Hamburg": "I cannot imagine that large corporations, who are ultimately behind it, make their decisions whether they buy rights or at what price they rights buy, make it dependent on developments as short-term as the corona crisis. " The DFL did not postpone the auction any further in consultation with the interested parties.
What do the Bundesliga teams want?
Most clubs expect more money, but more providers reject it. This resulted in a dpa survey in the league in January. "A possible further increase in revenue must not at the same time lead to us losing numerous football fans because, for example, they can only watch all Bundesliga games with three subscriptions," said Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO of RB Leipzig.
Who is under particular pressure?
Especially for Sky, the league's most important partner and financier for years, the hot phase begins on Monday. After the loss of TV rights to the Champions League, "they stand there naked," as Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge put it. "That puts them under dramatic pressure." Sportfive manager Nikolaus von Doetinchem said: "Without the Bundesliga, Sky won't exist like this."
The pay company recently said: "Sky is number 1 for all sports fans - today and in the future. The basis for this is exclusive sports rights. As in the past, we are optimally prepared for the upcoming tender."
Who are the other interested parties?
Especially DAZN and Amazon, who are currently showing some games live, are considered Sky competitors. Telekom also recently bought expensive rights. It is also possible that RTL - as with the Europa League - also offers TV Now for its streaming offer or the Springer publishing house, which is pushing its "Bild live" offer. Recently there have been many surprises in tenders.
What is there for fans without additional payment?
From 2021, there will be three additional live games on free TV - a total of nine. The two relegation games between the 1st and 2nd leagues and the second division kick-off are no longer exclusive to pay-TV providers. There are currently three first division games, the relegation between the 2nd and 3rd leagues and the Supercup on free TV.
There is also a new package (G) in the tender with 33 games of the 2nd division on Saturday at 8.30 p.m. "It is not specifically advertised for Free, but also," said DFL chief Seifert. Here pay and free TV channels compete directly at the auction.
Will there be a "sports show" in the future?
There is a corresponding rights package in the advertisement. But that doesn't have to end up at ARD again. Other stations such as RTL also have the option of buying Package I for the highlights summary on Saturday (6.30 p.m.).
DFL announcement
