Sale of media rights ?: DFL examines billions from investors

Selling media rights?
DFL examines billions rain from investors

German football is looking for new sources of money. According to a media report, the German Football League (DFL) could also sell shares in a marketing subsidiary to an investor, following the model of the Spanish and French leagues.

According to a report in the “Handelsblatt”, the German Football League is also considering the participation of an investor in the media rights in its considerations for the future direction. Specifically, it should be about possible shares in a new marketing subsidiary, according to the report, these could be worth up to four billion euros. The new company could therefore be valued at 15 to 18 billion euros. On request, the DFL commented that there were no “predeterminations” for the various development options.

“As already explained in May, the DFL has started a multi-stage process in which a working group of clubs and DFL appointed by the DFL executive committee analyzes future scenarios for the league and works out concrete options with a view to strategic growth areas in the interests of the 36 professional clubs,” a spokesman for the DFL also told the “Handelsblatt”. “This process also includes analyzing the possibility of strategic partnerships.”

The options will be discussed internally “in the committees and with all clubs”. “The aim is to give the clubs a well-founded overview of development options and to shape the future positively on this basis,” said the DFL spokesman.

In May 2021, the DFL General Assembly decided not to continue talks about investor participation in a DFL subsidiary for foreign marketing for the time being. At that time, the focus was primarily on short-term financial issues, mainly because of the corona pandemic. The current considerations are designed for the long term.

In its final report in March 2021, the “Future of Professional Football” task force recommended evaluating “structures for controlled strategic investments within the framework of 50+1”. DFL Managing Director Donata Hopfen clearly emphasized last May that the 50+1 rule, which basically prevents the clubs from being taken over by investors, remains untouched. “We face the challenge of leading professional football together into a successful future, despite sometimes differing interests and views,” said Hopfen. The next DFL General Assembly is scheduled for August 17th.

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