Fox nets German football rights for intn’l channels

21st Century Fox has agreed a multiyear year deal for international rights to games from the Bundesliga German football league.

The global deal spans select European territories, North America, Latin America and most of Asia (ex-India) and comes as Fox and its international channels division, FIC, aggressively ramp up their sports-related activities.

In Europe the deal gives Fox Bundesliga rights in Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands and covers the seasons starting in 2015 and 2016.

Elsewhere the deal runs for five years, starting in 2015.

“The Bundesliga has, on and off the pitch, developed into a leading global football league,” said James Murdoch, 21st Century Fox deputy COO.

In Germany 21st Century Fox-owned pay TV platform Sky Deutschland has Bundesliga rights.