DFL extends Bundesliga rights deal with BT in UK and Ireland
Frankfurt - DFL Sports Enterprises, the commercial arm of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga, and British Telecoms have reached an agreement for live coverage of the Bundesliga to remain on BT Sport in the UK and Ireland until the end of the 2016/17 season.
'Big commitment to German football'
BT Sport will broadcast at least 115 live Bundesliga matches each campaign, which is approximately 15 more than is permitted by the current rights package in 2013/14. A minimum of three live matches will be shown per matchday, with the deal also including the rights to the annual DFL Supercup matches, preview and highlights shows, plus rights for content across online and mobile platforms.
"BT Sport holds the Bundesliga in the highest regard as evidenced by its extensive and high quality coverage," said DFL Sports Enterprises chief executive Jörg Daubitzer. "The UK has never before been able to view so much Bundesliga football. We're delighted to be able to continue our collaboration."
"We are really thrilled that we will continue to be the home of Bundesliga for the next three seasons until 2017," added Simon Green, the head of BT Sport. "I am delighted that the Bundesliga recognised that BT Sport has made a big commitment to German football and will continue to promote and foster the league for UK sports lovers in the future."
The deal comes at a time when the Bundesliga is experiencing a real boom in the UK, with audience figures for the Bundesliga on BT Sport up 70 per cent from last season, thanks in no small part to the "captivating football" of FC Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund, as well as interest in former Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia's coaching travails at Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
