July 15, 2026, 3:33 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Football fans in Germany will need to adjust to a new TV offering for the upcoming NFL season. RTL Deutschland is significantly expanding its broadcasting rights and incorporating Sky into the package. This follows RTL’s acquisition of the pay-TV provider Sky in June 2026. The new rights agreement is valid through the 2028/29 season. Starting September 9, 2026, the entire NFL game week will be distributed across various RTL Group platforms.
Up to Nine Individual Games per Week
Compared to previous broadcasts, the offering is significantly expanding. Instead of an average of four games per matchday, viewers can watch up to nine individual games per week starting in September. This includes Sunday games, regularly scheduled night games, and additional live games on Sunday evenings.
Alexander Steinforth, head of the NFL in Germany, explains: “For us, the initial question is always how we can get more people excited about the sport. This was also our focus when evaluating offers for the paid package. With the merger of RTL and Sky, it is by far the largest German pay-TV provider. The total number of people we can reach is greater.”
The games in the early hours of Friday (kickoff: 2:15 a.m.), Monday (kickoff: 2:20 a.m.), and Tuesday (kickoff: 2:15 a.m.) will be broadcast simultaneously on RTL and Sky Sport.
On free TV, RTL will continue to show two Sunday games at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Additionally, another game will air at 7 p.m. on the streaming service RTL+. Sky will complement the offering with two more individual games at the same times. In total, the package includes more than 200 live games as individual broadcasts or conferences.
New Home for Conference and RedZone
The German-language NFL conference will now be broadcast both on free TV at Nitro and on pay TV on Sky Sport Top Event. Last season, this offering was with DAZN. However, the rights agreement between DAZN and the NFL was not renewed.
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The English-language original conference “NFL RedZone” with host Scott Hanson is also moving. It will now be available on the new channel “Sky Sport NFL.” There, coverage will switch between stadiums on Sundays starting at 7 p.m. as important plays or touchdowns occur. Additionally, the channel will show game replays and other NFL-related content.
International Games Remain Widely Available
All NFL International Games in Europe will be broadcast live on both free TV and Sky. This includes the game between Detroit and New England on November 15 in Munich. The following matchups are also on the schedule:
- London: Jacksonville vs. Houston (October 18)
- Paris: New Orleans vs. Pittsburgh (October 25)
- Madrid: Atlanta vs. Cincinnati (November 8)
- London: Washington vs. Indianapolis (October 4)
- London: Jacksonville vs. Philadelphia (October 11)
RTL Sees Itself as the New NFL Home
RTL’s Managing Director of Content Inga Leschek views the expansion of rights as an important step for the company. She says: “From the beginning, our vision was to be the home for the NFL. With our expanded rights, we are making this dream a reality. We will offer every NFL fan the right package–from major individual games to the German conference to NFL RedZone. This creates the largest NFL offering ever in Germany!”
The agreement covers the entire German-speaking region. The rights apply to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.
Who will present the NFL on Sky in the future has not yet been announced. Alexander Steinforth says: “We have discussed the topic a lot. We know we need the right faces. However, we cannot announce names yet; the broadcasters must do that. But a lot of thought and energy has gone into it, and in the end, we will have an exciting setup.”
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Here’s What the NFL Offering Will Look Like
The following broadcasts are planned for the new season:
- RTL will continue to show two Sunday games at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on free TV.
- RTL+ will additionally broadcast a game at 7 p.m.
- Sky will show one game each at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
- The Sunday conference with German commentary or in the U.S. original will air at 7 p.m. on Sky. On selected matchdays, the German conference will also be broadcast on free TV at Nitro.
- The games in the early hours of Monday (kickoff: 2:20 a.m.), Tuesday (kickoff: 2:15 a.m.), and Friday (kickoff: 2:15 a.m.) will be broadcast simultaneously on RTL and Sky.
- Sky is launching a dedicated NFL channel that will feature replays and additional league content.
- The Super Bowl on February 14 in Los Angeles will be broadcast by RTL and Sky.
NFL Game Pass Remains Available
In addition to the offerings from RTL and Sky, the NFL Game Pass will remain available in Germany. It will continue to be offered through the platform DAZN. The package includes all games with English original commentary and the “NFL RedZone” conference. The service can be subscribed to on a monthly or annual basis. Prices for the upcoming season are expected to be announced in early August.