Public Broadcasters ARD And ZDF Increase Coverage Of Basketball, Handball, Hockey

The Beko Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), German Hockey League (DEL) and DKB Handball Bundesliga (HBL) adjusted their schedules in order to become regularly featured on ARD and ZDF's sports highlight shows on Sundays. The change came after a meeting between the three leagues and the two German public broadcasters. Highlights of the BBL, DEL and HBL will from now on be more regularly featured on ARD's Sportschau and ZDF's Sportreportage, which both air Sunday evenings. To ensure this increased coverage, the leagues had to adjust their schedules. HBL CEO Frank Bohmann said, "The new model increases the diversity and balance of the sports programming of the public broadcasters. This will delight fans and people interested in sports." ARD Sport Coordinator Axel Balkausky said, "After constructive talks with the three league CEOs, we are glad to report more often about these popular leagues in the future" (DEL). FAZ.net reported that the German Olympic Sports Association (DOSB) "has again and again pressured the public broadcasters to comply with their duty and show the full diversity of sports." DOSB President Thomas Bach said the decision is "an important step in the right directions." However, Bach demanded additional measures. He said, "Basketball, hockey and handball have increased their coverage by adjusting their schedules for TV purposes. This has to be followed by other urgent decisions" (FAZ.net, 10/22).

BUNDESLIGA RATINGS: QUOTENMETER.de' Manuel Weis reported that Sky's weekend Bundesliga coverage was in "high demand." The pay-TV channels simulcast of the league's Saturday afternoon games attracted an average of 1.32 million viewers. In the marketing relevant age group 14-49, Sky's simulcast obtained a 4% market share. Sunday's most-watched broadcast was the game between Hamburg and Stuttgart, which started at 5:30pm. A total of 710,000 viewers tuned in to watch Stuttgart's 1-0 victory. This number translates into an overall market share of 3.4% and a 4% share in the marketing relevant age group (QUOTENMETER.de, 10/22).