Sport1 secures Bundesliga audio exploitation rights for web and mobile

Private German broadcaster Sport 1 has won the second bidding of the tender initiated by the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) for the audio exploitation rights relating to the Bundesliga, writes Birgit Heidsiek. The ‘audio netcast’ package includes the national exploitation rights for web and mobile for all the matches of the first and second Bundesliga, as well as the Supercups and the relegation for the seasons  2013/14 until 2016/17 for the German territory.

The ‘audio netcast’ package encompasses reporting on all the matches and conferences, along with 90 minutes’ coverage of every single match and the respective conferences at full-length.

“With the purchase of the audio exploitation rights for web and mobile we are going to expand our digital portfolio,” says Olaf Schröder, editor in chief and head of programme at Sport1. “[At] the beginning of the next season we will reach our viewers and users via radio too besides free and pay TV, online and mobile. Thanks to our renowned editorial and digital expertise we can offer soccer fans the premium product Bundesliga at all media distribution channels.“

Sport1’s broadcast rights comprise reports on the Friday match as well as all the matches on Saturday which are aired on Sunday afternoon. In addition, the 24-hour channel covers the top game of the second Bundesliga on Monday.

Meanwhile, public broadcaster ARD received the bid for the packages ‘audio broadcast’ and ‘audio enlargement’ – the latter an additional package with extended access rights for the stadium. The package ‘audio broadcast’ includes the national audio exploitation rights for VHF radio.

The non-exclusive rights for short audio reports on selected matches were not part of this tender. The DFL plans to negotiate them in the aftermath.

Looking ahead to the next season, the DFL is already checking a new model for awarding television rights, the idea being to increase the revenues by licensing the television rights to internet providers. The DFL considers that the Bundesliga highlights might be published first, at 7pm, on the web so that the acclaimed ARD Sportschau would have to move their reports on the first Bundesliga from 6.45pm to a later slot at 9.45pm on Saturday.

As with soccer itself, the business of rights and licensing can seemingly be related to the old saying ‘after the match is before the match’.