German commercial broadcaster RTL and media group Constantin Medien, which operates sports broadcaster Sport1, have signalled their interest in the free-to-air rights for the next cycle of the Bundesliga, the top division of German football.
A tender for the next four-season cycle, from 2017-18 to 2020-21, is expected to launch by the middle of 2016 and bidders are currently lining up.
RTL spokesman Matthias Bolhöfer told German newspaper Handelsblatt: “Yes, we are definitely interested in the Bundesliga rights. With concrete declarations of intent however, we will exercise restraint until the tender is present.”
Olaf Schröder, programming director of Sport1, added: “With a view to the next rights period, our goal is to maintain the status quo at least. If more options are available and are financially viable, we would also be interested.”
Public-service broadcasters ARD and ZDF currently hold two packages of free-to-air rights to the Bundesliga under the cycle spanning the 2013-14 to 2016-17 seasons.
ARD broadcasts highlights programmes at 6.30pm on Saturday and 9.45pm on Sunday, holding rights across television, internet and mobile. ZDF offers highlights of the Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga at 11pm on Saturdays.