ZDF & Sky Deutschland Secure UEFA CL Rights from 2012-15

European soccer’s governing body UEFA has announced that ZDF and Sky Deutschland have been awarded broadcast rights for the 2012-15 UEFA Champions League in Germany. The body also confirmed today, April 5, that Sky Deutschland has also been awarded media rights for the 2012-15 UEFA Europa League.

Free-to-air broadcaster ZDF joins the UEFA Champions League broadcasters, securing the rights to show live coverage of one game per matchweek including the Saturday final and the UEFA Super Cup. The conclusion of the live match programme will also feature a brief round-up of the night’s UEFA Champions League action.

Pay television operator Sky Deutschland has acquired the rights to broadcast all UEFA Champions League games on a live and delayed basis as well as the rights for Tuesday and Wednesday highlights programmes.

In addition, Sky Deutschland’s successful acquisition of the UEFA Europa League encompasses all matches on a live and delayed basis as well as highlights. This acquisition by Sky Deutschland, combined with that of the UEFA Champions League, guarantees comprehensive coverage of all German teams in European competitions across the Sky Deutschland platform.

In line with UEFA’s platform-neutral approach, the rights will also be exploited on the internet via ZDF’s website www.zdf.de and via Sky Deutschland’s website www.sky.de as well as through their respective mobile portals.

Commenting on the award of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League media rights, UEFA said: “UEFA is delighted to announce ZDF as its future free-to-air rights holder in Germany. The ZDF deal will ensure great access to the competition for football fans throughout the country.

“UEFA is also pleased to announce the incumbent pay television operator Sky Deutschland as its partner through to 2015 for both competitions. Sky Deutschland’s commitment to high quality production as well as comprehensive matchnight coverage continues to be a key element of European football coverage in Germany.”

ZDF’s free-to-air rights acquisition means that they have replaced holder Sat1’s commitment throughout the current term, which concludes at the end of the 2011/12 season.