Bundesliga TV Rights Finalized: ARD and ZDF Secure Key Packages
The ARD's 'Sportschau' and ZDF's 'Sportstudio' retain rights to showcase Bundesliga highlights through 2029, while DAZN and Sky dominate live coverage.
- The ARD's 'Sportschau' will continue to air Bundesliga highlights on Saturday evenings after securing rights for the next four seasons, maintaining its long-standing tradition since 2003/04.
- ZDF's 'Sportstudio' also retains its rights to broadcast highlights of Friday and Saturday Bundesliga matches, including the first free-to-air footage of the Saturday evening top match.
- Live Bundesliga coverage will remain split between Sky and DAZN, with fans needing subscriptions to both platforms for full access to matches starting in the 2025/26 season.
- The Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) expects stable revenues from the rights auction, with national TV income projected to exceed €1 billion per season, despite challenges in other European leagues.
- Pay-TV providers expressed frustration over the early airing of 'Sportschau,' which coincides with Sky's live Saturday evening top match, a scheduling conflict criticized as counterproductive.
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