Guide for Viewing Bundesliga Matches on German Television
The 2022-2023 Bundesliga season is upon us, and football fans in Germany and around the world are eager to catch the action. Here's a breakdown of where and how you can watch the matches live and catch the highlights.
Live Matches
Nine live matches in total will be shown on free-to-air TV in Germany, including the opening match of the second division of the Bundesliga (known as 2. Bundesliga). If you're in the UK, you can watch free live Bundesliga matches on the BBC, which streams every Friday night game for free via its BBC iPlayer service. Additionally, some games can be found on Bundesliga’s official YouTube channel.
Highlights
For those who prefer to catch the highlights, the official Bundesliga app offers first access to highlights, goals, and best bits from every game shortly after full-time, available globally outside the German-speaking region. Full highlights for all matches become available in the app from Monday after the weekend’s games, with other platforms showing highlights from Tuesday onward.
Beyond Germany and the UK
If you're outside the UK or want to access more matches, a VPN like NordVPN can help unlock streams available in other countries according to streaming rights. In the US, ESPN+ airs Bundesliga live, while DAZN covers the action in Canada (subscription required). BeIN Sports is the go-to channel in Australia (subscription required).
German Broadcasts
In Germany, RTL+ viewers can watch highlights from top league games starting this season. Highlights from the first and second divisions can be seen on ARD's Sportschau programme, with ZDF showing highlights on Saturday evening on Sportstudio, and Sport1 summarising the previous day's matches on Sunday morning.
Subscriptions and Packages
Sky is offering a 'Multiview' option, allowing fans to watch matches in a multi-screen view. The one-year subscription for the Bundesliga with Sky costs €29.99 per month, while the unlimited subscription for Bundesliga matches with DAZN costs €44.99 per month. The 'Konference' show, a fan favorite, will be broadcast on DAZN from this season to 2028/29.
The Bundesliga: A Global Phenomenon
The Bundesliga is the top-flight men's football league in Germany, attracting fans worldwide. Last season, FC Bayern Munich won the title, taking it back from Bayer Leverkusen who made history with their win. The Frauen-Bundesliga, the top level for women's association football in Germany, has seen Bayern Munich's women's team being the champions for two consecutive years.
German public broadcaster ARD has the rights to broadcast the first free-to-air highlights programme on all match days of the Bundesliga. This season, 306 matches will be played across 34 match days in the Bundesliga.
With nine live matches on free-to-air TV, a variety of streaming options, and extensive highlight coverage, the 2022-2023 Bundesliga season promises to be an exciting one for football fans in Germany and around the world.
