Broadcasters ARD and ZDF will join forces with RTL to air DFB-Pokal matches starting from 2026.
In a significant development for German football, the live broadcast rights for the DFB Cup have been further divided between ZDF, RTL, and Sky.
Previously reported in May, ARD was set to show up to eight live games per season of the DFB Cup. However, it appears that ARD will not be broadcasting all 15 live games of the DFB Cup, as the second rights package has now been assigned to ZDF and RTL.
Sky will maintain its exclusivity for the majority of the DFB Cup matches, continuing to show all 63 matches of the competition. The public broadcaster ZDF and the free-to-air private broadcaster RTL, on the other hand, will share the live broadcast of seven to eight games per season.
ZDF Sports Director Yorck Polus expressed his delight at the opportunity to show live games in the DFB Cup of men. He stated that the broadcast will complement ZDF's diverse sports offering on TV and online with exciting cup fights among men and women in the future. RTL has also acquired the live rights for the DFB Cup from 2026/27 to 2029/30, with each broadcaster set to show 15 matches during this period.
The agreement includes 15 matches per season to be shown live on free TV, ensuring that fans will continue to have access to a total of 15 live games of the DFB Cup on free TV. Alongside ZDF and RTL, ARD will also be part of the broadcast, as they have secured a highlight package for the first time.
The DFB deemed the offers received so far for the second rights package as insufficient, leading to the division of rights between ZDF, RTL, and Sky. The package includes highlight rights for free TV and streaming, with "kicker" securing the highlight package for the first time in May.
This development marks a new era for the DFB Cup, with the competition set to be more accessible than ever before to a wide audience. The live broadcasts will provide fans with the opportunity to witness exciting cup matches on both free TV and paid platforms, ensuring that no one misses out on the action.
