Austrian free-to-air (FTA) channel, ServusTV, is reportedly on the verge of securing rights to broadcast UEFA’s second-tier Europa League and third-tier Europa Conference League matches. This acquisition will be made possible through a sub-licensing deal with commercial broadcaster Puls 4.
Puls 4 currently holds FTA rights in Austria to air live action from the Europa League and Europa Conference League starting from the 2024-25 season. The German commercial network ProSiebenSat.1 owns Puls 4, which also has rights to air a live match from either league every Thursday and a Champions League highlights show every Tuesday evening for the next cycle spanning from 2024-25 to 2026-27.
In December of last year, Markus Breitenecker, CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Puls 4 announced that they would showcase these two competitions across their linear channels as well as their streaming app Zappn.
This deal is reportedly part of ServusTV's potential acquisition
According to Austrian news outlets, Red Bull Media House-owned ServusTV has agreed on a deal with Puls 4 that will allow them to hold these broadcasting rights starting next season. However, neither party has confirmed this agreement yet.
ServusTV currently holds FTA rights for airing the first-pick match of top-tier Champions League on Wednesdays and first-pick matches from either Europa leagues on Thursdays for the current cycle running until the end of season in mid-2023. This package also includes FTA rights for broadcasting Champions League final along with highlights throughout each contract period.
However, Canal Plus - a pay-TV giant - is set take over these country-wide broadcasting privileges during the upcoming cycle running between seasons of mid-2024 to mid-2027. This means ServusTV will not hold any rights for this cycle.
New Champions League format has changed the dynamics
The main rights package for the UEFA club competition during the next cycle will be held by another pay-TV giant, Sky Austria. Their deal includes exclusive rights to all Tuesday evening matches and eight out of nine Wednesday matches played per week. They will broadcast 185 Champions League matches each season, while both Sky and Canal Plus will have the rights to air the final.
This development comes after ServusTV announced its decision to shut down its linear channels in Germany and focus on operations in Austria where it holds several high-profile sports rights including UEFA men’s Euro 2024 and 2028 Championship, Austria’s UEFA national team qualifiers, motor racing’s Formula 1 among others.
Austria's representative in the Europa League for season 2023-24, Sturm Graz exited at the group stage.
