RTL Deutschland And Sky Deutschland Sign Strategic Content Partnership
Under a new strategic content partnership, RTL Deutschland and Sky Deutschland plan to present viewers with even more live sports broadcasts. There will also be other highlight rights, Sky fiction blockbusters, and close cooperation in production and on-screen editorial between the two broadcasters.
Sky Deutschland, one of the leading entertainment providers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and RTL Deutschland today announced a strategic content partnership to offer German viewers access to even more live sport. The innovative partnership between the two leading German pay and free-to-air-TV broadcasters, which is as yet unique in the German TV market, has been signed with the goal of delivering greater value to both Sky and RTL viewers, write the companies in their announcement.
The partnership, initially signed for two years, will see seven Formula 1 races broadcast live on RTL in Germany, alongside one game from the English Premier League per match week on RTL+, and three conference broadcasts of the 2nd Bundesliga on RTL. As part of the agreement, Sky Deutschland will receive rights to two Europa League or Europa Conference League games per match week, providing subscribers access to premium live sports every Thursday. The partnership additionally includes select highlights rights, Sky fiction blockbusters and close collaboration in production and on-screen editorial between the two broadcasters.
Best possible content for viewers
Stephan Schmitter, Chief Content Officer and incoming CEO of RTL Deutschland, commented: “RTL Deutschland is the place for fantastic live sport and magical sport events in free-to-air-TV and streaming. As the German free-TV market leader, we want to offer our viewers the best possible content – both on RTL and on our streaming service RTL+. Our new content partnership with Sky is the next major step for our ‘all-inclusive entertainment’ promise, as it perfectly complements our fiction and sports offering of football, American football and motorsport. At the same time, we ensure the greatest possible exposure across free-TV and streaming for Sky’s highly attractive sports rights, produced by great sport teams on both sides.”
“With an unmissable schedule, Sky Sport is known by sports fans as the leading pay-TV broadcaster of live sport,” said Barny Mills, CEO of Sky Deutschland. “By creating this innovative partnership with RTL, we will provide even more viewers with a showcase of those exciting sporting moments executed by the brilliant team at Sky Sport as a sample of what is on offer from a full subscription. As consumer habits evolve and change over time it is our role to anticipate and provide solutions that make life easier for the viewer. This partnership represents that thinking in action and we are excited to join forces with RTL.
Highlights of the partnership include:
- Seven Formula 1 races per season on RTL, alongside every qualifying session and the first race of the season on all RTL platforms
- Three 2nd Bundesliga conference broadcasts per season on RTL
- One Premier League game per match week on RTL+
- Select highlights and news clips
- Two Europa League or Europa Conference League games per match week on Sky
- High-end fiction formats from Sky non-exclusive on RTL+, such as “Der Pass” and “Das Boot”
The partnership will begin in 2024, with details of the specific races and matches to be confirmed nearer to the time of broadcast. Sharing live sport and content is the start of a broader partnership between RTL Deutschland and Sky Deutschland, with the goal of finding further ways to share content in the future.
Sky Deutschland, based in Unterföhring near Munich, is part of the Comcast Group and belongs to the Sky European media and entertainment group.
