German sports network Sport1 has acquired the broadcast rights for the Champions Hockey League, which will kick off on Aug. 21. Sport1 purchased the exclusive media rights for the new European club hockey competition for Germany from the sportsman media group for the inaugural '14-15 season. The sports rights agency is a partner of Infront Sports & Media, which is the exclusive marketing partner of the CHL. As part of the deal, free-to-air TV channel Sport1 will show live and exclusive selected games featuring German teams during the group stage. After the group stage, Sport1 will air one game per round including the CHL final on Feb. 3 regardless of the participation of German teams. The coverage includes a total of 13 live games starting with the matchup between Eisbären Berlin and Czech side PSG Zlin on Aug. 22. Sport1 Managing Dir Olaf Schröder said, "European hockey finally also has a continental top league. ... With the Champions Hockey League, we continue to build our portfolio of international hockey highlights. Starting this season, we will show the NHL live on Sport1 US. Regardless of summer: We are hot for ice!" (Sport1).
