Austrian public-service broadcaster ORF has said it will submit an offer for rights to the Uefa Champions League across the next window for the club football competition, amid concerns over the impact of cost-cutting measures at the company.
ORF currently holds rights to the Champions League and Super Cup competitions across a three-season contract running from 2015-16 to 2017-18.
The deadline for offers for the next cycle spanning 2018-19 to 2020-21 in Austria, Germany and Switzerland is set to close on April 3.
ORF spokesman Martin Biedermann told Austrian newspaper Der Standard that the broadcaster will seek to retain its rights, adding it will submit an offer “within the framework of our plans”.
In August, ORF acquired rights to a portfolio of national team properties marketed by Uefa, European football’s governing body.
ORF secured television and online rights to the Euro 2020 tournament and all qualification matches featuring the Austrian national team for the European Championships and 2022 Fifa World Cup from 2018 to 2022.
The contract also includes the 2018-19 and 2020-21 Nations League competitions and other international matches.