S-Nation Media, the new streaming platform launched by publishing giant Axel Springer and Christian Seifert, former chief executive of the German Football League (DFL), looks set to secure domestic media rights to German handball’s top-tier Bundesliga.
The league has said in a statement that it is currently engaged in talks over a final agreement with S-Nation, with incumbent rightsholder Sky Deutschland, the pay-TV heavyweight, set to let its ongoing deal expire at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
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The Handball Bundesliga (HBL) has said: "The aim of both parties is to agree on long-term cooperation up to and including the 2028/29 season.”
Sky, meanwhile, has been reported as saying: "Unfortunately, we could not agree with HBL on extending the broadcasting rights beyond 2022-23.”
The rights package being negotiated by S-Nation covers not only the Bundesliga but also the second-tier league and the country’s knockout cup competition, according to German media.
In mid-May, S-Nation acquired long-term domestic rights to Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).
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By GlobalDataThe platform will hold BBL rights for six seasons from the 2023-24 campaign.
It has been awarded both national and international media rights for Germany’s top-tier basketball league.
S-Nation will replace current rightsholder Deutsche Telekom when its deal expires at the end of the 2022-23 season, after outbidding the German telecoms operator.
The new streaming platform was announced in January after Seifert’s Reedstreet Ventures holding company established the media start-up with Axel Springer.
Seifert, who stepped down from his role as DFL chief executive in 2020, serves as the founder and managing director, with Axel Springer owning a majority stake.
The joint venture is focusing on sports away from soccer including basketball, handball, ice hockey, and table tennis, with the rights to various domestic properties due to expire.
The venture is planned to launch in late 2023 to coincide with the start of its new rights deals and will adopt both direct-to-consumer and wholesale models.
