German Football League chief Christian Seifert has defended plans to shuffle kick-off times in the Bundesliga as he attempts to break the one billion euro barrier for television rights from the 2017/18 season.
In the wake of the English Premier League’s record-breaking £5.136 billion TV deal, which comes into effect from next summer, Seifert is hopeful the Bundesliga will be able to exploit its growing appeal by setting a record of its own, although he admits changes must also be made for this to be possible.
Compromises will be needed between broadcasters with new fixture times set to be introduced, in particular to appeal to the Far East market where several Bundesliga clubs have already been and where Bayern Munich will soon be heading to stir up interest in the German league.
“I can confirm that two new kick-off times do play a role in our considerations,” DFL chief Seifert told Germany’s Die Welt.
“At the same time, I have read somewhere about a revolution which will now threaten football, but that is taking things way too far.
“If out of 306 games in a season we decide to move five to 13:30 on a Sunday as well as five on a Monday instead of the 2. Bundesliga, then I don’t think that is disproportionate.”
Seifert knows that even by being more accommodating to viewers on the other side of the world, the Bundesliga is not going to close the gap on the Premier League in terms of television revenue, but that is not his aim either.
“We’re orientating ourselves far less on the English as is often reported,” he said.
“Trying to chase a nine billion (euro) contract would mean that we’ve lost the race before it starts and you shouldn’t do that.
“I understand all the fans who are concerned when they read headlines like ‘Bundesliga also on Mondays’, particularly when they are some of the 20-25,000 fans who follow their teams away every weekend.
“Of course, a Monday match is more attractive to market than a game from the second division, but that would not be the main reason for this kick-off time.”
Instead, the DFL is focusing on a sporting concept which satisfies the clubs as well as their fans.
“Just ask Schalke and Dortmund, who will be playing in the Europa League on Thursdays,” he said.
“They are anything but happy to have to play again within 48 hours in the Bundesliga so this is a reason why we are trying to take some of the pressure off our Europa League participants by not forcing them to play on Saturday afternoon.
“We know there are fan groups who want all nine games on a Saturday at 15:30 and we know what some fans undertake to get to games, but the DFL has to consider the interests of many different groups.
“Each weekend, we have 360,000 people visiting the stadiums, 15 million people watching on television, sponsors, media partners, amateur football and security staff – and then there are also the clubs’ demands.”