Deutsche Telekom is interested in the German Bundesliga domestic rights in order to boost subscribers of the company’s OTT service Magenta TV, the telco’s executive board member and Telekom Deutschland chief executive Dirk Wössner has claimed.
Wössner has said in an interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that the company wishes to increase Magenta TV’s subscriber base from 3.5 million to five million by 2022 and has targeted the Bundesliga rights for this reason.
The Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) is currently drafting the tender for domestic rights from 2021-22 to 2024-25 with the idea of going to market early next year.
Wössner also said that there are other possibilities that could give Magenta TV access to the Bundesliga without acquiring rights from the DFL, including cooperation agreements.
Deutsche Telekom has recently shocked the German market with its acquisition of exclusive rights to all matches from the 2024 Uefa European Championship. Deutsche Telekom said last week that it would cover all matches via its TV and streaming platforms. However, the telco said that the matches of the German national team as well as “other matches” would be available on a free-to-air basis.
Several market experts told SportBusiness Media at the time that they were unsure Deutsche Telekom’s Euro 2024 acquisition would mark the start of a further push into exclusive sports rights. The timing of this claim could change this opinion within the market at a time when Uefa, European football’s governing body, will later this week also launch an invitation to submit offers (ISO) for its club competition rights.
Outside of Euro 2024, Duetsche Telekom holds rights to the German third-tier football league 3. Liga, Euroleague basketball, domestic basketball and ice hockey leagues.