2024-04-18 20:46:01
DAZN feels disadvantaged by the DFL in the allocation of TV rights. A complaint had an effect and the award was stopped for the time being. Now the streaming service explains its approach.
Was the awarding of the Bundesliga TV rights from 2025 fair or not? The German Football League (DFL) says yes, streaming service DAZN says no.
The fact is: After the public DAZN complaint, the DFL stopped the award process, which had been running since Monday.
The central accusation: The DFL rejected DAZN’s offer for the most attractive rights package B, which includes the individual Bundesliga games on Friday evening and Saturday at 3:30 p.m., on flimsy reasons in order to prefer another provider.
The DFL rejected the allegations as “inaccurate and baseless”, but stopped the tender “in order to protect the legal and procedural security of the procedure”.
DAZN: “Concerns about certain elements”
A DAZN company spokesperson told t-online about the complaint: “DAZN has concerns about certain elements of the award process and has raised these issues directly with the DFL. DAZN continues to strive to create added value for the Bundesliga, its clubs and its fans. We will not comment further on this matter at this time.”
It is currently unclear how the bidding process will continue. The auction has been running since Monday and was supposed to be completed in about two weeks. This is the clubs’ most important source of income. Professional football currently receives 1.1 billion euros per season. The rights are awarded for the four seasons from 2025/26 to 2028/29.
The Federal Cartel Office, which is involved, wants to examine the dispute and is planning to issue a statement on Thursday, reports the SID.