July 14 (Reuters) - Versant Media's 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.
(Reporting by Anhata Rooprai in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
