Bundesliga backs reach over revenue in US$100m Versant switch

USA Sports has secured exclusive US English-language rights to the Bundesliga until the end of the 2030–31 season, moving the German league from ESPN to a combination of USA Network and Fandango.The five-season agreement is worth US$100m, according to sources familiar with the deal, representing an annual value of about US$20m. ESPN had previously paid around US$30m per year for rights centred on its ESPN+ subscription service.USA Sports president Matt Hong said: “The Bundesliga boasts some of the most well-known clubs and players in the world and has an established connection with American soccer fans.“Our partnership with the Bundesliga represents another significant milestone in the growth of USA Sports as we continue to build a premier destination for live sports and deliver more of the events fans care about most.”More than 300 Bundesliga matches will be available each season across USA Network and Fandango, with at least 30 fixtures carried on the linear channel. The remaining games will stream free with advertising on Fandango.Matches will appear on one platform or the other rather than being simulcast. The division of fixtures beyond USA Network’s minimum allocation has yet to be finalised.Coverage begins on August 22 when Bayern Munich face Borussia Dortmund in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. Bayern, Dortmund, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt are among the clubs expected to feature prominently on USA Network.The agreement marks Fandango’s entry into live sport as Versant seeks to expand the platform beyond cinema ticketing and on-demand entertainment. Bundesliga inventory will support an advertising-funded streaming proposition without requiring viewers to buy another subscription.The league will also sit alongside Versant’s Premier League rights, taking USA Sports’ football coverage beyond 1,000 live hours during the 2026–27 season.Bundesliga Americas executive vice-president Robin Austermann said: “Our partnership with Versant’s USA Sports marks the next phase of our strategy, combining outstanding distribution with significant growth opportunities by bringing the Bundesliga closer to more fans across the United States than ever before.”The lower rights fee reflects a more selective US market for overseas football properties outside the Premier League. Bundesliga executives have instead prioritised wider accessibility after several seasons behind the ESPN+ paywall.Versant has expanded its sports portfolio with agreements covering the WNBA, Pac-12, USGA, PGA of America and DP World Tour. The Bundesliga adds year-round football inventory that can support both its pay-TV business and Fandango’s advertising model.The deal gives the Bundesliga broader linear and free-streaming distribution as it seeks to convert increased US interest around the 2026 FIFA World Cup into longer-term audience growth.