Sky Sports has enhanced its broadcasting portfolio of major international tournaments, signing an exclusive four-year contract with the German Bundesliga.
Announced on the company’s website, the agreement will see Sky provide live coverage of ‘the premium fixture of each weekend’ every Saturday on Sky Sports Football at 5.30pm, whilst additional coverage will feature Sky Sports linear and digital verticals, including its YouTube channel.
Additionally, the subscription TV network – part of the Comcast-owned Sky Group – will broadcast the German Super Cup, played between the winner of the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal, in addition to top-flight league fixtures.
The deal expands Sky Sports’ already extensive portfolio of major sporting events, which currently includes the Premier League, the Women’s Super League (WSL) and the recently launched Racing League, among other national and international tournaments.
“We’re delighted to have acquired the rights to the Bundesliga,” said Jonathan Licht, Managing Director of Sky Sports. “Sky Sports customers will have the opportunity to watch some of the best players in the world as well as some of the leading teams in Europe.
“This new four-year agreement adds to our football offering in the UK & Ireland which already includes Premier League, EFL, Scottish Premiership and FA Women’s Super League as well as international action in the form of World Cup Qualifiers, placing Sky Sports as the home of live football.”
Coverage of the tournament on Sky will begin at 7.39pm on Friday 13 August, beginning with Bayern Munich’s clash against Borussia Monchengladbach, followed by Borussia Dortmund vs Eintracht Frankfurt the following day at 5.30pm.
Meanwhile, the broadcast of the early ‘Klassiker’ German Super Cup, held between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, will take place on 17 August.
Bundesliga International CEO, Robert Klein, added: “This is a partnership that will deliver the best of the Bundesliga week-in, week-out, through world-class production and multi-platform coverage, from a broadcaster with a long history of creating a fantastic viewing experience.
“This, paired with the fact that the Bundesliga is one of Europe’s highest-scoring leagues, means that fans can expect an action-packed season – featuring some of the world’s best players and the most exciting up-and-coming talent.”