December 13 – Online retail and delivery business turned entertainment streaming giant Amazon has taken another step into the live football rights market securing the rights to show selected Champions League matches in Germany.
Last week Amazon Prime delivered the first of its £90 million three-year package of Premier League matches streaming 10 matches over two mid-week nights nights on its Prime Video platform. Amazon said millions watched games and that both nights delivered record numbers of sign-ups to the Prime subscription package since launch in 2007.
The retail giant will be hoping for a repeat in Germany where it will have ‘first-pick’ matches on Tuesday evenings from the 2021-2022 season in a three-year deal that will see them stream 16 matches per season.
“We’re excited to bring UEFA Champions League football to our customers in Germany,” said Alex Green from Prime Video Sport Europe. “The UEFA Champions League is one of the most prestigious club competitions in the world. We’re delighted to bring the top-pick Tuesday matches to our customers from 2021.”
By securing the package Amazon is adding to an audio package it already has for the Bundesliga. Currently Sky Deutschland holds the Champions League rights and sub-licenses packages to fast growing sports streaming service DAZN in a deal reportedly worth €600 million.
Germany, like the UK, no longer has any Champions League games on terrestrial television. No value was given for the Amazon streaming deal in a market for mid-week live football broadcast rights that looks to be switching its value proposition towards a focus on the internet streaming giants.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1731635847labto1731635847ofdlr1731635847owedi1731635847sni@o1731635847fni1731635847