Thailand secures World Cup rights as DFB TV adds Telekom highlights
Thailand and Germany have finalised late-stage World Cup distribution moves that show how rights holders are using streaming bundles and highlights packages to widen reach as the tournament begins.
Thailand has clinched an eleventh-hour agreement to show the FIFA World Cup after Jasmine International (JAS) secured exclusive domestic rights from FIFA for the 2026 and 2030 tournaments.Soraj Asavaprapha, chief executive of JAS, stated: “The deal for two World Cups and all FIFA sports events from today until 2030 is US$70 million. Thais will not have to keep fingers crossed when the next World Cup is coming.”The agreement ends weeks of uncertainty in one of Southeast Asia’s biggest football markets, after concerns that Thailand could miss live coverage as neighbouring countries confirmed deals.Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand’s prime minister, commented last month: “Previous governments ensured free access to the World Cup, and my administration should not be an exception.”Nation Thailand reported the deal will be executed through JAS and Mono Next’s Monomax strategy, with all 104 matches available on the platform and more than 40 matches on free-to-air via MONOMAX SPORTS, including the opening match and the final.The same report put the Monomax Sports Premium price at 5,999 baht, with instalment options, as the operator uses the World Cup to drive subscriptions alongside advertising.In Germany, DFB.TV has expanded its World Cup coverage by acquiring a highlights package from Deutsche Telekom, the rights holder showing all matches live via MagentaTV.The deal includes 104 edited match highlight clips, more than 300 near-live key moments, and selected MagentaTV studio content, interviews and analysis, alongside original reporting from the German camp and a studio in Hamburg.Kay Dammholz, managing director of DFB.TV and director of media rights at the German Football Association, said: “With our own DFB content and the additional rights we have acquired, we have created excellent editorial conditions for a high-quality complementary World Cup offering and a great experience for football fans across Germany.”Gisbert Wundram, managing director of DFB.TV and managing director of Sportainment Media Group, added: “Exactly three days before the opening match, we completed our new studio in Hamburg, from which we will provide extensive daily coverage of the national team.”DFB.TV also confirmed expanded distribution across its DFB.TV+ app and third-party platforms including DAZN, HD+, Sky Deutschland/WOW, Vodafone Deutschland, Zattoo and Ocilion.