HBL GmbH Expands International Media Presence: Handball-Bundesliga to Broadcast Live Games in the USA and Canada

Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Handball-Bundesliga GmbH (HBL) has entered into a media partnership with the multi-sport platforms Next Level Sports (NLSE) and For The Fans (FTF). With this agreement, the HBL secures broad media distribution in the USA and Canada, two of the world’s most dynamic and sports-driven markets.

At the core of the partnership is a weekly Bundesliga Match of the Week, which will be broadcasted live and on demand in English on each of the league’s 34 matchdays. In addition, all four games of the Lidl Final4 for the DHB-Pokal will be available to fans across North America. The 2026 DHB-Pokal tournament, held on 18th and 19th April at LANXESS arena in Cologne, will thus be accessible in more than 90 countries through the HBL’s expanding global media network.

The live coverage provided by NLSE and FTF will be complemented by a comprehensive editorial offering, including short- and long-form highlight packages, additional highlight clips, social media content, magazine features, and further editorial formats. With this extensive content package, top-level handball “Made in Germany” will consistently appear in the North American sports landscape – across linear TV, digital platforms, and all major OTT and FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) services.

Frank Bohmann, Managing Director of HBL GmbH: “Given their size and passion for sports and entertainment, the USA and Canada are the most important markets for us in North America. This media partnership opens the door for us, increases our reach, and allows us to bring our sport and our league closer to a highly engaged audience.”

All content will be distributed through a wide network, including DirecTV, Verizon Fios, Fubo, Dingo.TV, and a dedicated HBL channel on The Roku Channel. In addition, the full offering will be available via the NLSE+ website and app, giving handball fans convenient and direct access to all handball formats.

Bohmann continues: “NLSE and FTF’s ambition to bring international top-level sports events to a broad audience in North America aligns perfectly with our growth strategy. Handball, with its speed, athleticism, excitement, and passion, is a perfect fit for the U.S. market. For HBL GmbH, this partnership marks another important milestone in the development of our media rights.”

The multi-sport platform Next Level Sports (NLSE) already has extensive experience in distributing top international leagues, including basketball competitions from Germany, Spain, and Italy, creating ideal conditions for firmly establishing German elite handball in the North American market.