September 25 – Germany’s DFL has been told to re-auction its key domestic media rights package after a court ruled in favour of global sports streaming service DAZN in its legal dispute with the league.
DAZN challenged the league’s decision to award the key rights package, which includes Friday and Saturday Bundesliga matches, to Sky, arguing that the league acted unlawfully in rejecting its bid, leading to the suspension of the original tender.
The court ruled in DAZN’s favour, forcing the DFL to reopen the bidding process for the 2025-26 to 2028-29 seasons.
DAZN will continue as a domestic partner of the Bundesliga for at least one more season, despite the recent legal dispute. The streaming platform has also moved forward in its partnership with the league by securing exclusive Bundesliga rights in Spain for the 2025-26 to 2028-29 seasons.
Peer Naubert, Bundesliga International’s chief marketing officer, noted that while the dispute with DAZN was unexpected, both sides have maintained a professional relationship and continue to collaborate in other markets.
“DAZN is delighted that the court has ruled in our favour. We remain convinced that DAZN is the best partner for the DFL, for the clubs, and for German football fans,” said a DAZN statement.
In its own statement, the DFL said: “The reasons for the decision will be communicated to the parties in November. Against this background, the DFL is currently refraining from commenting further on the content.
“The DFL will announce details on the continuation of the media rights award after further substantive coordination in the DFL Executive Committee.”
Speaking to international media at last month’s German Supercup, Naubert said: “When the dispute happened in Germany, that came unexpectedly to us, and we were surprised. Then we had conversations and understood it was not perfect for our global collaboration. But anyhow, things need to go on, and we are grown-ups.
“It’s a business we are in and just because we are heavily arguing in one market, shouldn’t put us in a position that we are not able to close deals in other markets.
“We had good, healthy, and positive discussions around Spain in the past weeks, as we’re discussing with them in other markets as well and the communication is also open for the German market, obviously with an elephant in the room. I think we shouldn’t over-dramatise the whole thing.”
In the domestic media rights auction, four live packages are available for pay-TV (which can be sold to one buyer but isn’t required). Two packages are for technology-neutral rights covering Bundesliga 2, and one package offers free-to-air rights for at least nine live games from both leagues, the Supercup, and relegation playoffs.
A total of 617 matches per season will be covered, along with three audio rights packages and one for ‘digital out-of-home’ broadcasts. New highlights packages have also been introduced, enabling clips to be shown as early as Monday following weekend matches, with 90-second clips available for digital platforms.
Pay-TV will continue offering highlight clips after each match, and there may even be opportunities for social media clips to be posted during games in the next rights cycle.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1734898498labto1734898498ofdlr1734898498owedi1734898498sni@g1734898498niwe.1734898498yrrah1734898498