League of Olympic champions:

·         SPORT1 acquires platform-neutral rights from DFB for Allianz Women’s Bundesliga through 2017/2018 season

·         Dirc Seemann, Chief Editor and Director Content of SPORT1: “The Allianz Women’s Bundesliga is a very attractive league that fits perfectly into our live sports portfolio.”

·         Up to 22 live games per season on free TV

·         Season opener Bayern Munich vs. SC Freiburg, Saturday September 3, from 3:55 p.m. live on SPORT1

Ismaning, August 29, 2016 – The strongest women’s soccer league in the world – now featuring the gold-medal winners from Rio – has a new home: As of the new season, SPORT1 will show Germany’s Allianz Women’s Bundesliga live on free TV. The channel has secured the non-exclusive platform-neutral rights from the German Football Association (DFB) through the 2017/2018 season, including up to 22 live games per season, which means it can show a top game every matchday. Games can be offered on both SPORT1 free TV and SPORT1+ as well as via livestream at SPORT1.de.

Dirc Seemann, Chief Editor and Director Content of SPORT1: “The Allianz Women’s Bundesliga is a very attractive league that fits perfectly into our live sports portfolio. The euphoria following Germany’s Olympic victory in the women’s soccer has whet the appetite for the start of the new league season. Following the success in Rio, we’re treating the fans not just to the live games on TV but also to highlight videos and comprehensive coverage on SPORT1.de and our SPORT1 apps.”

Hannelore Ratzeburg, DFB Vice President Women’s and Girls’ Football: “We are delighted to have found in SPORT1 a strong partner for our Allianz Women’s Bundesliga who has vast experience as a live broadcaster in many sports. Especially in terms of access to digital media – an area in which SPORT1 is superbly positioned – we see the collaboration as an opportunity to generate a wider audience.”

Bayern to kick off the season

The opening game of the season will feature Bayern Munich as German women’s champions. SPORT1 will show their match against SC Freiburg, Saturday, September 3, live from 3:55 p.m. on free TV. Among the Bayern players are five gold-medal winners from Rio, in the shape of Melanie Behringer, Sara Däbritz, Melanie Leupolz, Leonie Maier, and Simone Laudehr. The team will be hoping to get their title defense bid off to a good start. But Bayern will have their work cut out for them – their opponents SC Freiburg, whose goalie Laura Benkarth was also in the German Olympic squad, finished last season strongly in fourth place. SPORT1 commentator for the game will be Jan Platte.

On the 2nd matchday, Saturday, September 10, SPORT1 will show the clash between Turbine Potsdam and1st FFC Frankfurt live from 1:55 p.m. (see below for more fixtures).

Program schedule at a glance: