Sky, the pay-TV network, has reportedly outperformed DAZN to secure the largest package of live Bundesliga games. However, it will lose the rights to the popular 'Konferenz' show to DAZN for the next rights cycle.
The rights auction was held for a second time after an initial attempt was suspended due to a legal complaint by DAZN against German Football League (DFL). The sports streaming company accused the league of anticompetitive behaviour as they had made a larger offer than Sky. An arbitration tribunal ruled in September that the league had to re-auction its rights package, leading to this recent bidding process.
Sky's coveted packages
According to Bild, Sky has acquired Package B and C. Package B consists of 196 live games per season including all Saturday afternoon and Friday evening games along with relegation play-offs. This bundle was initially awarded to Sky which led to legal disputes between DAZN and DFL.
Package C represents marquee Saturday night games allowing Sky viewership access both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund up ten times each season.
Despite losing out on these packages, Bild reports that DAZN managed to secure rights for Konferenz broadcast - a programme invented by Sky 25 years ago. This unique feature allows broadcasters switch back and forth between all Saturday afternoon games played simultaneously so viewers can watch goals from every match in real time.
DAZN is also said have acquired Package D which includes 79 Sunday matches each campaign season.
Financial details remain unreported
No financial details have been reported for any of these packages yet but they are set take effect from 2025/26 season onwards. The current contract between DFL with both companies is worth an average €1.1 billion (US$1.16 billion) per season. The DFL is now set to auction off the free-to-air (FTA) packages for Bundesliga which includes rights to weekly highlights programme currently broadcast by ARD.
In related news, FTA network RTL has reportedly secured rights to the top game in Bundesliga 2, Germany's second division, taking over from Sport1. Sky is also expected to land entirety of second tier's pay-TV rights according Kicker.
This recent shift in broadcasting rights marks a significant change in how fans will access their favorite games and could potentially reshape the landscape of sports broadcasting moving forward.
