体坛英语新闻：News Analysis: Why Bundesliga eyes TV revolution despite opposition from fans

BERLIN, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- German football fans will soon have to prepare for a TV revolution and say goodbye to die-hard like habits as far as Bundesliga kick-off times are concerned.

Immediately after the English Premier League announced its new gigantic TV deal, which guarantees them up to 3.2 billion euros (about 3.6 billion U.S. dollars) per season for national TV rights compared with 835 million euros (about 948.98 million U.S. dollars) per season in Germany, the German Football League DFL, the German Football Association DFB and many German Clubs are working on plans which are regarded as a step into modern times. The ideas are however opposed by the majority of fans.

The DFL and DFB's aim is to open up the global football market and particular the Asian and US market. Therefore they are considering staging Bundesliga games on late Monday (7.00/8.00 pm local time/at least 10 per season) in order to show matches live in other European countries and the US.

They are also thinking about games on December 26, similar to the Boxing Day matches in England, and an earlier kick-off time (midday local time) for that day and some Saturday games in order to serve the Asian market.

At present, Bundesliga matches are spread over Friday evening (8.30 pm), Saturday (3.30 and 5.30 pm) and Sunday (3.30/5.30 pm), and a second division game on late Monday, which may have to kick-off earlier when the Bundesliga restructures its current schedule.

Changing kick-off times could come as early as the start of the 2017/2018 season when a new TV deal is expected to take effect for the German leagues. The DFL is aiming to crack the wall of one billion euros per season for the TV rights as soon as possible.

Many fans though are far from happy about the plans. For decades, first division football has been a beloved weekend passion for millions of Germans. Tens of thousands travel around the country to attend the games. Trains are brimming with cheering fans and the roads are full of coaches and private vehicles.

Many are already complaining about the travelling time and fear they will be prevented from watching their team when the kick-off times and game-days change. To have a regular job and watch football would be nearly impossible under these circumstances.

Despite the fans' disappointment, the clubs see only one solution if they are to secure the Bundesliga's international competitiveness. "We must get an answer to the question as to whether the German only want the Bundesliga or if they are interested their clubs being internationally successful," said Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. "If people want more international success for German teams, we definitely need a revolution," he said.

"We need to think about unpopular methods," said DFL CEO Christian Seifert, knowing full well the Bundesliga won't hit the heights of the Premier League deal as in England two pay TV stations deliver games (up to 15 million subscribers). In Germany there is only one supplier (four million subscribers).

Seifert feels fans around the world will only follow two to three big leagues and they are the ones that will "survive" in the global race. "We need to implement changes in order to be one of those leagues," says Seifert.

He knows the TV market in Germany has a different structure to the one in England. It means the Bundesliga has to find its own way. The Premier League would stay the number one for many years.

Rummenigge also sees the German league in danger of losing its stars if the gap to other leagues keeps on growing. Currently, league leaders Bayern Munich receives up to 50 million euro per season from the national TV market. The club bottom of the league gets 20 million. In the Premier League the last placed team already gets 79.2 percent more out of the TV money than Bayern.

To present the Bundesliga brand worldwide, some are suggesting the first round of the German Cup (DFB-Pokal) should be played without Bundesliga teams to allow them to travel around the world drumming up attention for the league.

Currently the Bundesliga earns 72 million euros from the foreign TV rights. By changing the kick-off times, they hope to get to 200 - 250 million. Italy's Serie A generates around 117 million, the Spanish Primera Division over 150 million and the English Premier League 800 million euros, meaning England is light-years ahead of the rest.

"English clubs saw the need to expand into other markets much earlier than we did. We have missed a trend, yes you can say we have missed out," said Seifert. "We intend to spread the brand Bundesliga into every corner of the world."

A few years ago the DFL and clubs started pre-season training-camps abroad to gain more attention for the Bundesliga from foreign fans.

With new kick-off times, German clubs, first and foremost Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, could increase their merchandising revenue by selling more shirts abroad. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have started to open offices in USA and Asia. Having toured the USA in 2014, Bayern Munich will travel to China in summer 2015 to play up to three games and prepare for the new season.

"After all," Rummenigge said, "Germany managed to win the 2014 World Cup and we are about to overtake England in the UEFA ranking. One of the reasons is the fundamental and intensive academy system in Germany."

Pundits are predicting that player salaries will rise in the Premier League after the new TV deal. A greater number of foreign players will be attracted to the top English division which in turn will make it harder for talented English youngsters to be given contracts at the leading clubs.