At present the DFL brings in round €420 million a year from its domestic TV rights. The new deal could be worth around €500 million a year. Premiere, Germany's pay-TV operator, presently shows coverage of live Bundesliga matches under a deal with license holder Unity Media that expires after the 2008-09 season.
Last month Kirch also acquired an 11.5 per cent of EM.Sport Media AG, the German media company which owns, among other assets, the DSF sports channel. The stake was in exchange for a stake in Highlight Communications AG, which owns 80 per cent of T.E.A.M Marketing, the company that markets the rights for the Champions League.
