Domestic rights to German top men's soccer’s ‘Konferenz’, the live whip-around TV show on Saturday afternoons, will switch from pay-TV broadcaster Sky Deutschland to global sports streaming service DAZN in the new broadcast cycle, according to widespread reports in the country.
DAZN is understood to have secured Package A in the Bundesliga domestic rights tender for the 2025-26 to 2028-29 seasons, with that package including the ‘Konferenz’ offering that provides coverage of matches (161 in total) played at the same time in the 3:30pm (CET) slot on Saturday afternoons.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The ‘Konferenz’ programme has been a key feature of Sky Deutschland’s Bundesliga coverage for many years. It was first rolled out by Sky's predecessor Premiere in August 2000.
DAZN has also snapped up Package D in the tender, which gives it rights for the 79 Sunday games each season.
Meanwhile, the coveted and controversial Package B will remain with Sky for the next four seasons.
That package, one of five reserved for pay-TV broadcasters only, includes matches played on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons and comprises a total of 196 per season. It also includes the Bundesliga relegation play-off matches.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataSky has also secured Package C, which includes the top match on Saturday evenings, and the season-opening Supercup (34 matches), and all games from the second-tier 2. Bundesliga (275 matches).
The first of the 15 Bundesliga TV packages have thus been awarded in what has been a protracted tender process.
The DFL will officially present the deals to the 36 clubs in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga at a general assembly meeting on Thursday.
The league body was hoping to conclude the sales process before the start of this season but was involved in a legal battle with DAZN after awarding Package B to Sky and was forced to suspend the tender.
In late September, the DFL was ordered to re-auction its key domestic media rights package by the German Institution of Arbitration (DIS) which ruled in favour of DAZN in the legal dispute.
DAZN, one of the DFL’s two incumbent domestic rightsholders, took legal action after claiming the DFL acted unlawfully in not accepting its bid in the tender.
Following the delay, the DFL resumed the auction on November 25 and has moved quickly to award the five pay-TV live rights packages.
The league is also expected to award the two free-to-air live rights packages (Package E and Package G) this week.
In the domestic tender, two packages are technology-neutral covering the 2. Bundesliga, and one is for free-to-air rights to at least nine live games across the whole portfolio (from both leagues, the Supercup, and the post-season relegation playoffs).
The rights lots will cover a total of 617 matches per season, while there are also three audio rights packages on offer, as well as one covering ‘digital out of home.’
In addition, new highlights rights packages have also been created (Package I), that can be used as early as Mondays following the weekend’s action. One of these will focus on digital platforms, including the broadcasting of 90-second clips.
The DFL took the first steps towards launching the tender in January, and at that point was hoping to have the process finished in June.
Domestic live TV rights to Bundesliga action during the current cycle – 2021-22 through 2024-25 – are shared between Sky Deutschland, DAZN, ProSiebenSat.1, and Sport1. Public-service broadcaster ARD, meanwhile, holds free-to-air highlights rights.
These deals are worth, in total, around €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) annually, with the league seeking to retain this value for the next deal.
