Brian Sullivan, chief executive of German pay-television operator Sky Deutschland, said today that Sky’s new four-year Bundesliga rights deal, along with renewals with Hollywood film studios and the forthcoming launch of Sky Atlantic HD, had given the broadcaster a “unique long-term perspective” and provided a “significantly enhanced opportunity for growth and innovation.”
Sullivan’s comments came as Sky revealed financial results for the first quarter of 2012 which showed an 18-per-cent increase in revenue on the first quarter of 2011 to €318 million ($417 million), with the net number of subscribers growing by 73,000 to 3.085 million.
Sky agreed deals with the league, the Deutsche Fussball Liga, worth €485.7 million per year from the 2013-14 season, 94 per cent up on the €250 million per year it pays in the current cycle. The new deal comprises all games, live and in HD, across all platforms, adding IPTV and mobile to the existing rights for satellite, cable and online. Sky said that the deal represented the “highlight of the year to date.”
The broadcaster added: “Sky’s outstanding football offering will further accelerate growth with the introduction of the new rights from the 2013-14 season.”