Broadcasters Negotiate Lower TV Rights Fees
In the midst of a heated tournament rights competition, a high-stakes card game unfolds.
For the third time since August 2023, Mamadou Stangare found himself in the crosshairs of a violent attack, as per legal claims, violating the criminal offense of intentional harm. The red card was Brandished, not for the first time, but the third time.
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This was the first time as a Hartberg player, against Austria Lustenau, when he had only been on the pitch for ten minutes. As a Rapid player in November against Sturm Graz marked his second offense. The incident against Djurgarden wasn't just a foul — it cost Rapid millions, and a heartfelt Instagram apology failed to suffice.
The Consequences: Penalties from Imprisonment to Financial Loss
Typically, such actions would be penalized internally. All of Stangare's red cards were given for violent leg and open-sole fouls. This could potentially incur charges under § 84, Paragraph 4 of the Austrian criminal code. Punishments range from six months to five years imprisonment.
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Rapid can't afford to overlook this. This unsettling incident is just another chapter in their rocky season. Among the victims of Stangare's recklessness was certainly the broadcaster Canal+. The semifinal matches between Rapid and Chelsea would've drawn massive viewership, being exclusively broadcast. However, the interest in Chelsea against Djurgarden or Fiorentina against Betis Sevilla will be minimal.
Bundesliga Bullish: Exploring German Agency to Lure DAZN
Not only Canal+, but also Sky, the league's current TV partner, harbors interest in the Bundesliga TV rights from 2026 to 2030, tendered on Monday. Via a German agency, the league is seeking to bring DAZN into the market to boost prices.
In the back of their minds, they probably consider the astronomical sums that the company of 67-year-old, Odessa-born, and 21-year-old American expat, Len Blavatnik, paid for two rights packages of the German Bundesliga, worth over one billion euros for four years. DAZN adds another 220 million for the Champions League. Could the smaller Austrian market also attract DAZN?
League's Ambition: Providing the Broadcast Signal Itself
Offers for the rights packages must be submitted to the league by May 19th. Starting from 2026, there will be a Friday game in the league every round, allowing for fewer "conferences" consisting of just two games.
Another significant topic under discussion is the elimination of the point-sharing system, which was implemented at Sky's request seven years ago to increase tension in the title race. Additionally, the league intends to provide its own broadcast signal, bypassing Sky's current provision.
Sky's Response: Less Money and More Free-TV Games
Mirroring the German league's approach, the league aims to produce its own signal, currently managed by Sky. This move doesn't please Sky, who plans to offer ten million euros less for the Pay-TV rights, tripling the number of live games accessible on Free-TV channels. Instead of four, there will be twelve live games in the future. Whether this will entice ORF despite financial constraints or ServusTV remains to be seen.
- The ongoing controversy surrounding Mamadou Stangare's aggressive play in football could potentially impact the broadcast viewership, as the incident against Djurgarden may have deterred broadcasters such as Canal+ from showing future semifinal matches involving his team, Rapid.
- Although the Austrian league is discussing the elimination of the point-sharing system and providing its own broadcast signal, these changes may not appease broadcasters like Sky, who are likely to offer less money but more free-TV games in response.
