Steffen Merkel Says DFL Invests More in Copyright Protection — Livetv
Steffen Merkel said the DFL is putting more money and effort into copyright protection as illegal live sports streaming remains widespread in Germany, and he tied the push to action against both providers and users. The DFL managing director said the league is not backing off from piracy enforcement while digital rights stay under pressure. livetv
Merkel On Illegal Streams
“It astonishes me how some people downplay digital piracy,” Merkel said in a recent interview. He said users of illegal live streams can harm themselves enormously and should not be surprised if their devices become infected with malware or their credit card is suddenly used somewhere in the world.
He added that anyone who casually talks about a manipulated receiver or a new IPTV app at the pub needs to understand the risks. That warning goes beyond the usual complaint about unauthorized viewing and points at the technical and financial exposure that can follow it.
Merkel also said the DFL has digital piracy much better under control than other leagues because it has been active in copyright protection for many years together with its media partners. He said those technical and legal options for taking action against providers and users are constantly evolving, and the league is currently investing even more in that area.
German Piracy Scale
The pressure on the DFL comes with a large market behind it. The Association of Private Media estimates TV piracy damage in Germany at €1.8 billion annually, while nearly six million people in Germany regularly use illegal live sports streaming services.
That backdrop helps explain why the league is pushing harder now. Legal access to German football has become more expensive and fragmented across multiple subscriptions, and the source material says piracy has grown alongside that shift.
Fans also face a sharper split in the coming years. DAZN’s subscription price in Germany is currently 44.99 euros per month, German football fans need the 34.99 euro Sport subscription to watch all competitions because DAZN does not carry the DFB Pokal, and DAZN will no longer carry the Champions League in Germany in 2027.
DAZN, Paramount Plus, Netflix
The rights shuffle does not stop there. Paramount Plus will get the rights to the Champions League in Germany in 2027, and Netflix will stream the final of Europe’s top competition in Germany; Netflix’s subscription fee in Germany goes up to 13.99 euros.
For viewers trying to follow every major match legally, the bill keeps climbing while the anti-piracy campaign gets more aggressive. Merkel’s message was direct: the DFL is spending more, and it is preparing to act more often against the people and services it says are behind illegal streams.
