Germany/TV rights 2021-2025: "Last season was a light breeze, the storm is coming" (C. Seifert, DFL)

"Last season (2019-20) was at best a light breeze. Now the storm is coming. The financial burdens and risks are much higher than the clubs, players and their agents, as well as outside observers would like to perceive," said Christian Seifert, CEO and spokesperson for the DFL on 07/12/2020, following the German League's general assembly which adopted the distribution of TV rights for the 2021-2025 cycle.

This distribution of German-language TV rights (Germany + German-speaking neighbouring countries or regions) is based on four main criteria (see details below and document available to download): an equal share (53% in 2021-22), one based on sporting performance (42% in 2021-22), one based on the training and use of young players (3% in 2021-22) and one based on the image of the club and its social pertinence (2% in 2021-22).

"By reorganising the distribution keys for approximately €5bn of revenue, the German League intends to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. We want the clubs to be financially stable. In these really uncertain times, we are trying to take decisions…