2024-09-24 16:20:56
The dispute over the Bundesliga’s TV rights from next season ended up in court. The court has now ruled in favor of the plaintiff.
Streaming provider DAZN has successfully filed a lawsuit against the controversial awarding of rights package B. The German Football League (DFL for short) announced this in a press release on Tuesday afternoon. It specifically stated that a lawsuit filed by DAZN at the end of April against the awarding of rights package B in the media rights tender for the 2025/26 to 2028/29 seasons was “partially upheld”.
The arbitration award published on Tuesday stipulates that the DFL must re-run the controversial partial auction of rights package B. In mid-April, the DFL suspended the auction of the German-language media rights for the four seasons from 2025/26 to 2028/29 due to the dispute with DAZN, which, like Sky, still holds the live rights until the end of the current season.
Specifically, it concerns rights package B, which includes the individual games on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. as well as the individual games on Friday evening and the relegation (a total of 196 games per season). “DAZN is pleased that the court has decided in our favor. We remain convinced that DAZN is the best partner for the DFL, for the clubs and for German football fans,” the provider said in a statement. The DFL declined to comment on the matter.
Streaming provider DAZN felt discriminated against in April because its offer was rejected, even though it was “the most financially attractive and convincing”. The bid is said to have amounted to 400 million euros per season – a total of 1.6 billion euros. However, the DFL did not accept the financial guarantees given by DAZN. Therefore, the corresponding package is said to have already gone to Sky despite a lower offer. DAZN then called in the arbitration court.
It is highly doubtful whether the streaming broadcaster will now enter the newly launched rights auction with a similarly high investment. DAZN CEO Alice Mascia recently said in an interview with the financial magazine “Capital” that in the event of the loss of Package B, a total withdrawal from the Bundesliga would also be an option.
In addition to rights package B, the other packages must also be awarded in the coming weeks. However, the DFL has not yet given any concrete information as to when this will happen. The association’s statement simply said that details on the continuation of the award would be announced “after further substantive coordination in the DFL executive committee”.