EM 2024 - Fans are left watching: This is why the match between Turkey and Austria will not be broadcast on free TV
Those who are not customers of MagentaTV will not be able to watch live on television the UEFA European Championship quarter-final match between Turkey and Austria. The game on Tuesday, with a 9 p.m. kickoff in Leipzig, is not available on free-to-air TV from the publicly-funded broadcasters ARD and ZDF, nor from RTL. This has led to criticism on social media networks, particularly in Germany where there are approximately three million people of Turkish descent.
EM 2024: Turkey against Austria not on Free-TV – Reason: Complex Contracts
Background: MagentaTV is allowed to exclusively broadcast one quarter-final match at the EM. The pay-streaming service chose the match between Turkey and Austria, while ZDF opted for the German national team against Denmark.
The distribution is based on a complex contract. Telekom secured the complete media rights for the EM in Germany in 2019. Subsequently, it granted a large part of the EM rights to ARD/ZDF in a comprehensive contract and received in return broadcast licenses for all EM 2020 matches and all World Cup 2022 matches.
Forty-six of the 51 EM games were or are being broadcast in free-to-air TV, with 17 each from ARD and ZDF, and 12 from RTL. MagentaTV holds exclusive rights for five games, including the last quarter-final.
All other quarter-finals were broadcast for free
The game can only be watched in the ARD and ZDF media libraries after the final whistle. In the ARD audio library, the game can be listened to live.
The ARD has shown Spain against Georgia and Portugal against Slovenia from the round of 16. Additionally, on Tuesday (6 p.m.), it will broadcast Romania against the Netherlands. ZDF was present for the Germany game against Denmark, as well as England against Slovakia on Monday, and France against Belgium on Saturday when the defending champion Italy was eliminated. Transparency note: The star is part of RTL Germany.
- Despite the criticism on social media in Germany, the UEFA European Championship quarter-final match between Turkey and Austria isn't available on free-to-air TV from broadcasters like ARD and ZDF, nor from RTL, as MagentaTV has exclusive rights to broadcast this game.
- According to the complex contract, Telekom, the provider of MagentaTV, secured the complete media rights for the EM in Germany in 2019 and later granted a significant portion of these rights to ARD and ZDF.
- In contrast to the Turkey vs Austria match, ZDF opted to broadcast the German national team against Denmark in the EURO 2024, while ARD showed Spain against Georgia and Portugal against Slovenia from the round of 16.
- RTL, also one of the major German broadcasting companies, has shown matches such as England against Slovakia and France against Belgium but does not have the rights to broadcast the Turkey vs Austria quarter-final match.
- Viewers in Germany who are not subscribed to MagentaTV and unable to watch the live match between Turkey and Austria on television can find the footage in the ARD and ZDF media libraries after the final whistle or listen to the live game in the ARD audio library.
