Versant's USA Sports secures U.S. Bundesliga rights in live programming push

Versant Media Group, Inc. Class A

Versant Media Group, Inc. Class A

VSNT

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- Versant Media's VSNT.O USA Sports said on Tuesday it had struck a multi-year deal to become the exclusive English-language U.S. broadcaster of Germany's Bundesliga starting in August.

The agreement reflects a broader industry push into live programming, which media companies see as a way to win viewers and add subscribers in a mature streaming market.

Here are some more details:


• The deal, running through the 2030-31 season, will bring more than 300 live matches each year to USA Network and streaming service, Fandango.

• Coverage will kick off on August 22 with "Der Klassiker," one of the Bundesliga's biggest rivalries, featuring defending champions Bayern Munich against Borussia Dortmund in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup.

• At least 30 matches will air on USA Network, while the remaining matches will stream free on Fandango, featuring clubs like Bayern Munich, Dortmund, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and RB Leipzig.

• Robin Austermann, executive vice president of Bundesliga Americas, said the Bundesliga's U.S. fan base had grown 43% over the last five years.

• This marks the league's first major shift in U.S. broadcast partners since ESPN+ acquired Bundesliga rights in 2019 for the 2020–2026 period.

• The Bundesliga agreement adds to USA Sports' portfolio of long-term rights deals, including the Women's National Basketball Association, the Professional Golfers' Association of America and the DP World Tour, all of which run into the 2030s.