Pranav Birje | Senior Correspondent
India’s public service broadcaster Prasar Bharati’s new OTT platform ‘WAVES’ is set to bring in premium German football matches to India’s mobile first audience, live and free.
In an exciting milestone for WAVES OTT, the platform is set to showcase another live sports event – the highly anticipated DFB- Pokal quarterfinals.
Starting February 04, football fans will be treated to the electrifying action of Germany’s premier club cup competition, bringing world-class football right to their screens.
The Quarterfinals are scheduled as follows:
February 04 between VfB Stuttgart and FC Augsburg
February 05 between Bayer Leverkusen and FC Köln
February 25 between DSC Arminia Bielefeld VS and SV Werder Bremen
February 26 between RB Leipzig VS and VfL Wolfsburg.
This marks a major step forward for WAVES as it expands its sports offering, following the success of the HIL and DD Winter Sports Games, which captivated audiences with thrilling winter sports coverage.
WAVES offers classic Indian content in all Indian languages taking the Indian media and entertainment industry to global audiences. As the platform builds its reputation as a go-to destination for live sports, the addition of the DFB- Pokal strengthens its commitment to offering premier sporting events to its viewers.
“The DFB-Pokal is a cornerstone of German football, and we’re excited to bring these live matches to WAVES for the first time,” said Kay Daommholz, Director Global Media Rights, DFB (German Football Association).
“As the competition advances to the quarterfinals, the energy on the pitch is only going to heighten. This partnership with WAVES ensures that fans across the region will experience the magic of the tournament firsthand.” The spokespersonhe added.
Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO, Prasar Bharti, shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration: “This is an important milestone for WAVES, marking our first live football broadcast. The DFB- Pokal has such a rich history, and we’re proud to be the platform hosting these iconic moments. It’s a clear signal of our commitment to growing the sports category on WAVES and delivering thrilling live sports experiences to our viewers.”
The first quarterfinal match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. FC Köln will be live at 7.45 pm GMT on Tuesday, February 4 (01:15 IST on Wednesday February 5).