The sport’s local governing body – the DFL – says it has turned down a new offer for a two-year extension to its current deal, which runs until next season.
According to the DFL, Infront has offered EUR272.5m and EUR277.5 for each of the two extra years. The current deal for this season is worth EUR295m and EUR300m for next season.
The DFL says the price drop is unacceptable, and failure to up the offer could see Infront deprived of one of its biggest properties.
Should FIFA not renew its existing World Cup TV rights deal with the agency – formerly KirchSport – Infront could face losing two of its most bankable assets. FIFA is currently considering whether to take its TV rights in-house or continue with an outside agent.
Said DFL executive Werner Hackmann: “I expect that we could make more profit by selling the rights ourselves.
"Football in booming and we would like to have a share of it."
However, any move to take the rights in-house would require a dedicated team installed within the DFL – which in itself would carry a high cost.
Added Hackmann: “We would be in a position to deal with it ourselves. We are not pessimistic but we would like a decision soon."
Infront was unavailable for comment when contacted by sportbusiness.com
German soccer chiefs have threatened to take TV rights for the Bundesliga in-house after rejecting an offer from Infront to extend its current marketing deal.
