There are no more DFL guarantees for "Sportschau"
How can the Bundesliga be sold to women and men in the future? Various scenarios are being played out at the DFL. There are no longer any guarantees for one institution; Formula 1 is to provide inspiration.
The bosses of the German Football League (DFL) left the future of the Bundesliga open in the ARD "Sportschau" on Saturday evening. With a view to the allocation of national TV rights from the 2025/26 season, there is "no guarantee for any time slot, format or broadcaster," DFL Co-Managing Director Steffen Merkel told "Sport Bild".
Until now, ARD has broadcast summaries of first and second division matches on free-to-air TV on Saturday evenings from 6.30 p.m. - at the same time as the evening Bundesliga match. Two scenarios have been submitted to the Federal Cartel Office, "one with a broadcasting window as we know it today. Which could go to the ARD 'Sportschau', but also to other free-to-air broadcasters," said Merkel, as well as "a later transmission window from 7.15 p.m. to 8.15 p.m.".
It is "clear that ARD has been the Bundesliga's longest-standing partner with 'Sportschau' since it was founded in 1963," the DFL boss continued. The fact that there are no guarantees before the contract is awarded in the second quarter of this year is "in the nature of an open tender". There is "extensive interest in more compact exploitation in the free-to-air sector on Saturday evenings".
More insights, not just for "hardcore fans"
In order to further develop the broadcasts, the DFL is also planning deeper insights into the teams. There needs to be "significantly more proximity than before", said Merkel, but it is not a question of "completely shifting the lever to entertainment, following the example of the US leagues". Instead, he cited brief interviews with players after the bus arrives, images from a camera installed in the dressing room and more access to the teams during the week as examples.
A league-wide documentary based on the example of the Netflix series "Drive to Survive" about Formula 1 is also part of the plan. This is "incredibly popular, not only appeals to hardcore fans, but has also brought many new fans to Formula 1 globally. We would expect the same from a possible Bundesliga documentary," said Merkel.
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The DFL, seeking to attract a broader audience, is considering incorporating elements from Formula 1 broadcasts, such as a league-wide documentary, to engage both casual and hardcore soccer fans, similar to the popular Netflix series "Drive to Survive". Despite the DFL's historical partnership with ARD's "Sportschau" since its inception in 1963, the future of Bundesliga broadcasts on ARD is uncertain, with no guarantees from the DFL for any time slot, format, or broadcaster from the 2025/26 season onwards. [DFL, Soccer, ARD]
Source: www.ntv.de
