More DFL auction leaks: RTL secures rights to 2. Bundesliga "Top-Spiel" | OneFootball

In the current negotiations over the four-season-auction determining broadcast rights for the top two German footballing divisions between the 2025/26 and 2028/29 campaign, more leaks are emerging. Two of Germany's most reliable media sources - the German Associated Press and Kicker Magazine - both now report that public broadcaster RTL has secured rights to the 2. Bundesliga "Top-Spiel". This Saturday 20:30 kickoff previously belonged to pay channel "Sport1".

While the four major broadcast packages have already been awarded, the DFL is auctioning off a total of 15 packages during the closed-door auction. The current leaks confirm ownership of one more package. German football lovers across the Bundesrepublik remain curious as to the fate of "Package I", which will determine the amount of time and access granted to public broadcaster ARD as pertains to the popular Saturday evening "Sportschau" program.

It remains to be seen whether "Sportschau" will continue in its current format. The highlights-program ordinarily runs from 18:00 on Saturdays and features detailed highlights from all matches in the top two divisions. The "Package I Klassik" shall enable this to continue. The "Package I Kompakt", on the other hand, will reduce access to footage and only allow ARD to show highlights from 19:15 onwards.

"Package E" allows a free-TV channel to show the last Bundesliga Friday game before the winter break, the first Bundesliga Friday game after the winter break, the season opening game of the 2nd Bundesliga, the Supercup, and all four relegation games, has not yet been awarded either. Public broadcaster Sat1 currently holds these rights.

Further details on packages:

Package F (Sky and RTL)

-Sky maintains rights to all 2. Bundesliga matches and conferences.

-RTL picks up rights to 2. Bundesliga Top-Spiel