Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) India, one of the country’s heavyweight broadcasters, has secured exclusive rights to the DFB-Pokal, German soccer’s knockout cup competition, for the 2022-23 season.
The deal, which covers the Indian subcontinent, commences with the second round which begins tonight (October 18).
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As well as its home market, the pay-TV broadcaster will have rights in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
SPN will also provide coverage on its SonyLIV over-the-top platform.
The agreement additionally includes rights to show the DFB Super Cup, which is contested at the start of the season by the winners of the top-flight Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal.
Last season, the DFB-Pokal was shown for free in the region on the DFB’s YouTube channel as the German soccer body failed to land a traditional broadcast partner.
The deal enhances SPN’s German soccer portfolio as it already holds rights to the Bundesliga in the Indian subcontinent.
The DFB has secured several rights deals for its domestic cup competition in recent months, including new agreements with Optus in Australia, Dubai Sports Channel (the Middle East and North Africa), CCTV (China), Kompas TV (Indonesia), Coupang (South Korea), M+ (Macau), and Sky Italia (Italy).
The national body additionally secured several renewals with the likes of L’Equipe in France, ESPN (US) Hong Kong Cable Television, Measat Astro (Malaysia), Charlton (Israel), Ziggo (Netherlands), and Premier Sports (UK and Ireland).
In Germany, DFB-Pokal coverage between 2022-23 and 2025-26 will be provided by a combination of pay-TV’s Sky Deutschland, which will have rights to all games, and by both ARD and ZDF, the public service broadcasters.
