‘Der Klassiker’: upgrades in media production and interest on all continents
10 April 2025 – On Matchday 29 of the 2024-25 Bundesliga season, FC Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund will face each other in Munich’s Allianz Arena (Saturday, 6:30 p.m., live on Sky). When ‘Der Klassiker’ is played, football fans around the world will be watching. Accordingly, the game will be produced with a future-oriented media concept of the highest quality.
Worldwide interest
The game will be broadcast in more than 200 FIFA member countries. In addition to the national media partners, twelve international TV broadcasters will also report live from the stadium with their own teams: ESPN (USA), Sky Mexico, Sky Switzerland, beIN Sports France, Canal+, Startimes (both Sub-Saharan Africa), beIN Sports Middle East (English), Viaplay (Poland), Eleven Sports Poland, beIN Sports MENA, SABC (South Africa), Azam (Botswana, Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe) and ZAP (Angola, Mozambique).
Upgrades in media production
Fans watching on TV in Germany and across the globe can look forward to a comprehensive and world class media production. More than 30 cameras will be used. In addition to the ‘Top Match Plus’ camera concept with 26 individual cameras, including a free-flying drone and a bird’s eye view from an ‘aerial camera system’, the match will also be produced with additional special cameras. Images captured wirelessly with two ‘cinestyle’ handheld cameras in 16:9 widescreen format enrich the live broadcast with shots of the fan sections and the emotions in the stadium. In addition, a ‘Polecam Highspeed’ attached to a four-metre-long swivel arm enables extreme slow-motion shots, covering the entire goal, including the perspective through the goal net.
Two coach observation cameras will be directed at the two coaching zones and capture the communication and emotions of Vincent Kompany and Niko Kovac. As in the first leg, a RefCam will also be used again to provide impressions of the game from the referee’s perspective. The DFL will use the images generated to create a RefCam special as an editorial offering for its media partners after the game.
Feed for tactical fans and innovations
The DFL’s media partners can use all the content from the DFL’s Global Product Portfolio (GPP) – these DFL-produced offerings include, among other things, the entire game with English commentary, interviews and highlight clips. Dan O’Hagan and Steffen Freund will be the commentators for the international live production in the world feed.
The tactical feed will also be used by Sky and numerous international media partners. Here, the main camera image keeps track of all 20 outfield players, while relevant information and graphics are repeatedly displayed at the edge of the screen as the situation demands. These include Bundesliga Match Facts, implemented together with Amazon Web Services (AWS), with the real formations of both teams, tactical data on the teams and individual information on the players.
During the game, in-match analysis clips will help to visualise match data in relevant match situations. For this purpose, video clips with the appropriate graphic elements are automatically generated and integrated into the live signal.
Player interviews on the pitch are planned right after the final whistle. The concept was successfully tested in the first leg and is part of the media product from the 2025/26 season onwards. Also, in anticipation of the next media rights cycle, the ‘Player of the Match’ can be voted for via the Bundesliga app. A shortlist based on objective criteria will be provided for this purpose. The player of the match will be available for interviews with media partners after the match.
Marketing activations around the world
‘Der Klassiker’ is accompanied by the global ‘ALWAYS DER KLASSIKER’ campaign. This includes digital activations and live events, which are implemented with the support of both clubs, their international fan clubs and local media and content partners. On matchday, public viewing events will be organised in New York City, Tokyo and Osaka. Media partner beIN will accompany two fans from Thailand who have never been to a Bundesliga game before on their unforgettable trip to Munich. Bundesliga and club legends Jürgen Klinsmann and Roman Weidenfeller will also be involved in the DFL’s global activities around the ‘Der Klassiker’.