The regional associations of the German Football Association, together with DFB GmbH & Co. KG and ARD, have created a new contractual basis for the “Finaltag der Amateure”. The new agreement secures the continuation of the successful TV format until the end of the 2029/2030 season and at the same time opens up new opportunities to further expand the reach, visibility and marketing potential of German amateur soccer.
Initial exploitation remains with ARD: transmission continues in familiar format
The central element of the format will remain unchanged in the future: ARD and its state broadcasters will retain the free TV first exploitation rights on the final day of the amateur competition. This means that the established broadcast format with a multi-part, nationwide live conference on ARD will continue in the future. The extensive livestream offer with at least 15 individual matches in full length on sportschau.de and the online portals of the state broadcasters will also supplement the TV broadcast in the next five years.
In addition to marketing the media rights, DFB GmbH & Co. KG, in cooperation with best boys tv-factory GmbH, will also be responsible for the technical implementation of the TV production of all 21 state cup finals. The new agreement also gives the German Football Association and its regional associations the opportunity to exercise additional marketing rights for the first time. These include a possible live broadcast on German pay TV as well as free and pay TV exploitation abroad.
Future-oriented further development of the format for amateur football
Dirk Brennecke, Managing Director of the Football Association Mittelrhein, says on behalf of the steering group of the amateur final day, which has been organizing the joint final day of the regional cups since 2015: What once began as an idea and initially only existed in the minds of a few, celebrated its tenth anniversary last year. With the new marketing agreement and the decision to take over TV picture production itself, the project has now taken a huge step forward. This not only affects the increased value and increased professionalism of the final day itself, but also opens up a wide range of opportunities for the regional associations to further develop this amateur soccer format, which is popular with fans and teams alike, in a modern and future-oriented way. We are already looking forward to the joint broadcast of the amateur final day by ARD, DFB GmbH & Co. KG and best boys tv-factory GmbH on May 23, 2026."
"We are very pleased that the DFB will be able to make its contribution to implementing this successful 'Amateur Final Day' format on the day of the men's DFB Cup final for the next five editions. In addition to securing the status quo of the live broadcast on ARD's first channel and streaming in the ARD media library, which is important for all parties involved, the DFB will give the amateur final day additional media visibility and relevance at home and abroad, not least through live broadcasts of selected individual matches on our new pay-TV channel DFB.TV," said Kay Dammholz, Director of Media Rights at DFB GmbH & Co KG.
Axel Balkausky, ARD Sports Coordinator: "Our regional expertise characterizes ARD's reporting, and the focus on the various regions in Germany is also very important to us in sports. There is hardly any other national sporting event where this is as visible as at the amateur finals. We are therefore delighted to continue our long-standing agreement for the next five years and to continue to broadcast all national cup finals on one date in live conferences lasting several hours both on ARD and in the ARD Mediathek."
About the amateur final day
The Amateurs' Final Day is unique in its form and scope and inspires millions of soccer fans throughout Germany year after year. As part of the format, all state cup finals of the 1st men's teams are played annually and can be followed in a live TV conference lasting several hours as well as in an extensive livestream offer. The eleventh edition of the amateur final day will take place on May 23, 2026, once again on the day of the DFB Cup final for men, which will be held in the evening at the Berlin Olympic Stadium.
