ESPN+ has announced a multi-year agreement with Germany’s domestic soccer league, Bundesliga. ESPN+ will serve as the U.S. home for the league and will broadcast more than 300 matches per season. The agreement begins in August 2020.
What’s happening:
- ESPN+ will be the new U.S. home for the Bundesliga, Germany’s top domestic soccer league, as the result of a new multi-year agreement that will begin in August 2020.
- ESPN+ will feature exclusive live and on-demand replay coverage of more than 300 matches per season from the Bundesliga, in both English and Spanish languages.
- In addition, the long-term agreement includes:
- Live coverage of the season-kickoff DFL Supercup
- Rights to Bundesliga 2 matches
- On-demand surround programming such as highlights and magazine shows
- ESPN linear television networks will also feature select Bundesliga matches each season and highlights will be available in ESPN programs and on the ESPN App and ESPN.com.
- The Bundesliga joins an extensive lineup of soccer on ESPN+ that features over 2,000 top soccer matches per year from around the world, including exclusive coverage in the U.S. of:
- Italy’s Serie A
- UEFA Nations League
- England’s FA Cup
- EFL
- MLS
- Dutch Eredivisie
- And more
What they’re saying:
- Russell Wolff, Executive Vice President and General Manager, ESPN+: “With a strong connection to the American soccer community, a growing audience in the U.S. and some of the most well-known clubs and players in the world, the addition of the Bundesliga further cements ESPN+ as a must-have for any soccer fan.”
- Robert Klein CEO, Bundesliga International: “It was clear from the start that ESPN and ESPN+ shared our ambitious vision. As innovators in the sports industry, we’re both driven to deliver highly engaging content for fans. They will help us build on the strong connections the Bundesliga has with the U.S. having welcomed more American players than any other European league. They’re attracted by the authentic, entertaining soccer we describe as ‘Football As It’s Meant To Be’, played in front of the largest spectator numbers in the sport and epitomized by the highest goals per game average of all top European leagues. Germany will continue to be an important source of talent for future US national teams and with ESPN we’re incredibly excited to take fans on their journey in the lead up to their home World Cup in 2026.”
- Burke Magnus, Executive Vice President, Programming, ESPN: “We’re thrilled to reach this kind of multi-year agreement to bring one of the world’s most passion-filled and exciting soccer leagues to the most innovative sport service in the U.S. Like ESPN, the Bundesliga has embraced technology, putting the fan at the heart of all they do by consistently delivering world-class content.”
About Bundesliga:
- The Bundesliga is the premier professional association football league in Germany and the football league with the highest average stadium attendance worldwide.
- The league was established in 1963 and comprises 18 teams which operate on a system of promotion and relegation with the Bundesliga 2.
- Known for its stadium atmosphere, high-quality play, storied rivalries and goal-scoring pace, Bundesliga is among the world’s top domestic leagues.
- Bundesliga is also home to some of the biggest rivalries in world soccer, led by Der Klassiker (The Classic) between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München.
- Other Bundesliga rivalries include:
- Revierderby (FC Schalke 04 versus Borussia Dortmund)
- Rhine Derby (FC Köln versus Borussia Mönchengladbach)
- Berlin Derby (Union Berlin versus Hertha Berlin)
Want to catch all the excitement of the Bundesliga? Subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99/month $49.99/year.