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4w ago

DFB Negotiates Split or Own Broadcast After Free-TV Pokal Rights Package Goes Unsold

Unrestricted negotiations are under way to sell or slice the unsold rights package with a self-streaming option available to cover a €12 million shortfall.

Den Pokaltriumph des VfB Stuttgart gegen Arminia Bielefeld sahen in diesem Sommer durchschnittlich 7,56 Millionen Zuschauer, was dem ZDF klar den Tagessieg bescherte
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Overview

  • One of the two 30-match free-TV packages for the DFB-Pokal 2026/27–2029/30 went unsold at auction, leaving the association without a broadcaster for half of its free-to-air rights.
  • The DFB has entered ‘free allocation’ mode, allowing unrestricted negotiations to sell the remaining package either intact or broken into smaller lots.
  • The association faces a €12 million annual shortfall against its €70 million rights target due to falling advertising revenues and public broadcaster fee uncertainties.
  • Sky secured pay-TV rights for all 63 Pokal matches per season, while ARD acquired the first free-TV package and ARD/ZDF bought select women’s games, with the women’s conference package still unsold.
  • As a last resort, the DFB could stream unsold match packages through its own or partner platforms to guarantee free-to-air access.