DFL seeking big increase in Bundesliga’s foreign rights

German Football League (DFL) chief executive Christian Seifert is targeting a significant rise in the value of the Bundesliga’s global broadcast rights.

Seifert told German newspaper Die Welt that the DFL is targeting the league’s overseas rights as one of its major growth areas.

The league currently generates €70m ($91m) a year from this revenue stream and Seifert believes this can realistically increase to between €100m and €150m per year.

He said: “Our foreign rights are definitely one of the biggest growth areas. The worldwide press hype that has been created recently around German football and the alleged changing of the guard (in European football) shows how important the (Uefa) Champions League has become to the international perception of a successful football league. The current contracts run until 2015. We will conclude in the next 12 months, significant contracts for the period thereafter.”

Seifert was speaking as the DFL celebrated its 50th birthday on Tuesday.