29 Sep 2008Bundesliga cuts ties with Sirius SportMedia

Football Sponsors/ Sponsorship and Media

The German Football League (DFL) has announced that it is terminating its €3 billion television rights deal with Sirius SportMedia.

The news comes after the German federal cartel office stated that it would only permit the central allocation of the rights through the DFL and Sirius if highlights of Saturday Bundesliga matches were shown before 19:00 BST on terrestrial television.

This caveat was rejected by the two parties and pay-TV operator Premiere and public broadcaster ARD are now expected to step in with a €420 million per season deal - a similar amount to what they have paid previously.

Commenting on the news, DFL president Reinhard Rauball said: "The cartel office has withdrawn the foundation of the planned collaboration.

"After considering all options, our executive board has decided to cancel all contractual relations."

Die Ziet magazine has suggested that as a result of the termination, employees and consultants of Sirius will need to be compensated at a combined total of €10 million.

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