The German Football Association (DFB) has agreed deals with public-service broadcasters ARD and ZDF, along with telecommunications firm Deutsche Telekom, for rights to the German women’s national team, the Women’s Bundesliga and the men’s 3. Liga.
The contracts will span four seasons, from 2018-19 to 2021-22. SportA, the sports-rights agency that represents ARD and ZDF, has agreed a deal that will grant the broadcasters rights to all of the German women’s national team’s home games, along with matches from the Women’s Bundesliga – the top tier of women’s club football.
Under its rights package for the 3. Liga, the third tier of men’s club football in Germany, ARD will be permitted to broadcast at least two games live per season. The rights were previously held by ARD, which broadcast many games on its regional channels.
Meanwhile, Deutsche Telekom will show all 3. Liga games, the promotion play-offs and one match per season from the Women’s Bundesliga on a pay-to-access basis throughout its platforms. This is the first time that all 3. Liga games will be provided with coverage. The DFB said Deutsche Telekom will also provide its Women’s Bundesliga game to a free-to-air channel.
German football’s governing body added that the distribution of revenue from the deal to the clubs in the 3. Liga and Women’s Bundesliga will be decided in the coming weeks.