DFL managing director pats himself on the back for copyright protection, misses the point by cracking down on digital piracy
This is frustrating.
26 January 2026, Hesse, Frankfurt/Main: Soccer: Bundesliga, New Year's reception of the German Football League (DFL) at the Gesellschaftshaus Palmengarten. Steffen Merkel, Managing Director of DFL GmbH, speaks at the DFL's New Year's reception. Photo: Florian Wiegand/dpa (Photo by Florian Wiegand/picture alliance via Getty Images) Germany has had a growing issue with watching football on the television for quite some time.
The main provider of the Bundesliga, DAZN, has raised its’ prices by more than 200% without adding any services over the years, with its’ subscription’s price currently sitting at 44. 99 Euros per month. Fortunately, they also carry the Champions League.
But DAZN also does not carry the DFB Pokal, so to watch all competitions German football fans need to buy the 34. 99 EURO Sport subscription. Things will get worse in 2027, though.
DAZN will no longer carry the Champions League as Paramount Plus gets the rights for the competition in Germany, as well, costing fans up to another 12. 99 euros. But they will not stream the final of Europe’s top competition, because Netflix will do that.