21st Century Fox and the Deutsche Fussball Liga (DFL) today announced a series of multi-year agreements to deliver Bundesliga football to hundreds of millions of fans across North and South America, Europe and Asia via 21st Century Fox’s global portfolio of television assets. The agreements call for a five-year term in Asia and the Americas, and a two-year term in Europe. Financial details were not disclosed.
The agreements will leverage 21st Century Fox’s global distribution footprint in territories such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, China (in English), Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands and many more. In total, the agreements cover 80 countries or territories on four continents and will span three units of 21st Century Fox: Fox International Channels, Fox Sports and Sky Italia. Under the terms of the agreements, 21st Century Fox will be granted exclusive rights, subject to certain reserved rights, to the Bundesliga in the Americas and Asia – excluding India and the Oceania region – as well as Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The deal, which will take effect with the 2015-‘16 season, includes rights to all 306 Bundesliga matches each year, as well as the DFL-Supercup and the Bundesliga Relegation Playoffs. In addition, 21st Century Fox will attain digital distribution rights, including the ability to make DFL content available through new and existing authenticated online television services, as well as on mobile devices in the contracted territories.
“Both on and off the pitch, the Bundesliga has grown to become one of the preeminent soccer leagues in the world,” said James Murdoch, Deputy COO of 21st Century Fox. “We look forward to partnering with the DFL over the next five years to leverage our unrivaled global portfolio of sports channels to bolster the Bundesliga brand in every corner of the globe.”
Christian Seifert, CEO of DFL Deutsche Fussball Liga, stated today: “These agreements confirm that the Bundesliga has legitimately evolved to become a top international sports media property. 21st Century Fox is a global-scale partner that provides German soccer opportunities for worldwide exposure and future growth. We welcome these agreements as an expression of faith in the Bundesliga’s continued development over the coming years.”
The new agreements will also see 21st Century Fox benefit from Sky Deutschland’s status as an Official Partner and domestic broadcaster of the Bundesliga in Germany. Sky Deutschland’s production resources will guarantee fans the full breadth and depth of Bundesliga coverage and editorial expertise, presented in a style suited to each region’s local preferences.
About DFL Deutsche Fussball Liga
The organisation and marketing of professional football in Germany are the core functions of the DFL Deutsche Fussball Liga. Founded in May 2001 the DFL has a wide and multi-facetted brief, with the organisation of the league schedule ensuring smooth-running, well-balanced and above all exciting competition in Germany's professional leagues. The licensing of the 36 professional clubs in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 is a core element of the DFL brief and the further enhancement of the Bundesliga brand is a central pillar of DFL strategy. The continuous development and marketing of "in-house" products is part of that strategy and the DFL has accordingly long since established itself as a content provider. Strategic brand management in both a national and international context as the basis for the further growth of marketing revenues is another constituent part of the DFL's day-to-day operations.
About 21st Century Fox
21st Century Fox (NASDAQ: FOX, FOXA; ASX: FOX, FOX LV) is the world's premier portfolio of cable, broadcast, film, pay TV and satellite assets spanning six continents across the globe. Reaching nearly 1.5 billion subscribers in 100 local languages every day, 21st Century Fox is home to a global portfolio of cable and broadcasting networks and properties, including FOX, FX, FXX, FS1, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, Fox Sports, Fox Sports Network, National Geographic Channels, Fox Pan American Sports, MundoFox and STAR; film studio Twentieth Century Fox Film; and television production studios Twentieth Century Fox Television and Shine Group. The Company also provides premium content to millions of subscribers through its pay-television services in Europe and Asia, including Sky Deutschland, Sky Italia and its equity interests in BSkyB and Tata Sky.
