HBL launches own OTT platform: All LIQUI MOLY Handball Bundesliga matches will be available to fans outside the licensed territories

In addition to continuing to expand its existing successful international licence partnerships and media networks, the HBL GmbH will also be looking to inspire and appeal to new fans of the sport in countries where live Bundesliga matches had previously not been available with its new "HBL TV" OTT platform. These include the European markets of Spain and Portugal, as well as markets in Southeast Asia (China, Japan) or Africa (Egypt, Tunisia).

The new platform will be launched on 31 August with the season-opening Pixum Super Cup, the contest for the first title of the season between the German champions SC Magdeburg and cup winners THW Kiel, and be available live and free of charge for fans outside the licensed territories. Fans can already register for the launch at www.hbl-tv.com.

Frank Bohmann, Handball-Bundesliga GmbH Managing Director, expects live streaming to continue to experience continuous growth during the coming months and years: "At the moment, fans in over 30 countries, where we have licence agreements, can follow the Bundesliga live on their screens. The new OTT platform represents the next exciting step on the road to more viewers, by providing an attractive offer to fans outside the existing licensed territories. HBL TV will offer millions of fans around the world the opportunity to watch every match of the Handball-Bundesliga live and in excellent quality with a low-cost subscription."

Bohmann went on to add that: "It is our aim to develop more reach and visibility beyond our core and license markets in order to subsequently achieve a sustainable increase in marketing revenues."

In addition to the core streaming offer of live matches from the top tier of German professional handball available via a monthly subscription, the fans in countries beyond the licensed territories will also be able to access a wide range of behind-the-scenes HBL content on the OTT platform free of charge.

During the initial phase of "HBL TV", HBL GmbH will offer a match of the day with English commentary on every match day. In addition, English commentary will also be provided for the Pixum Super Cup and the REWE Final4 tournament of the DHB Cup. The remaining 272 Bundesliga matches of the 2022/23 season, available with the subscription, will be offered without any commentary for the time being. It is intended to gradually increase the number of matches with English commentary on the streaming platform. The same applies for the other video and graphics offers that the HBL GmbH currently produces on a large scale and publishes, mainly in German, on all the relevant digital platforms.

All 310 live matches (including the PIXUM Super Cup and REWE Final4 tournament) and access to all additional international content will be available for a monthly subscription of EUR 3.99 or annual subscription of EUR 39.99. Further information is available at http://www.hbl-tv.com/.

HBL President Uwe Schwenker: “Players from all over the world are still very keen to be signed by one of our Bundesliga clubs because they know that the HBL offers a density of quality and success that is unrivalled in the world, and a key to their personal development and sporting careers. Many of these players have a huge following of fans in their home countries and our new streaming platform will allow us to offer these fans the opportunity to see their stars up close and live. We can hardly wait to present our new platform; however, at the same time, we are going to have to roll up our sleeves to make our new global offering a success.”

The declared aim of the Handball-Bundesliga GmbH is to develop the company's own OTT platform with premium live handball streaming in the pay-TV section and other high-quality content in the free-TV section. By doing so, it intends to establish HBL TV as a home for the millions of handball fans unable to access the matches of the LIQUI MOLY HBL and 2nd HBL due to the lack of international licensing rights in their respective countries.

The platform has been developed and will be operated in cooperation with wizid.sport, a brand of TicketPAY Europe GmbH. TicketPAY has been successfully handling the ticketing of HBL events since the 2021/22 season and develops progressive solutions for the digitization for sports leagues and clubs.

Photo: Klahn