Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
February 10 – German media powerhouse Bertelsmann, the bulk proprietor of RTL Group, has quietly positioned itself as a key participant within the newest enlargement of Kings League, the seven-a-side soccer competitors first launched by former Spain and Barcelona defender Gerard Pique.
Bertelsmann has invested ‘a number of million euros’ by way of a subsidiary for a minority stake in Kings League Germany, set to launch this yr. Kosmos, the brainchild of Piqué and architect of the Kings League phenomenon, will retain operational management.
At first look, this would possibly appear to be simply one other media conglomerate diversifying its portfolio, however Bertelsmann’s involvement is something however passive. The deal permits the corporate to weave its varied enterprise items into the league’s ecosystem – a element that reportedly piqued Kosmos’ curiosity.
RTL subsidiary We Are Period, a Berlin-based social media manufacturing agency, will maintain a 20% stake in Kings League Germany, making certain that digital-first content material methods are embedded from the outset. In the meantime, Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) is anticipated to provide the league’s soundtrack, reinforcing Kings League’s signature fusion of soccer and leisure.
Rumours of a German enlargement started circulating in late 2023 when Kosmos began hiring for key positions in Cologne, additionally residence to free-to-air broadcaster RTL Deutschland. The funding was finalised in January 2024, setting the stage for RTL+ to function a key distribution platform for the competitors.
Nevertheless, as with earlier editions, Kosmos stays dedicated to succeed in over income, prioritising free streaming throughout Twitch, TikTok, X, YouTube, and, extra just lately, OneFootball—the place Kings League launched a devoted channel forward of the Kings World Cup Nations in Italy final month.
Germany’s participated in that match, outfitted with a staff led by 2014 FIFA World Cup winner Mario Götze alongside digital heavyweights Papaplatte, Trymacs, and TikToker Younes. The choice underscored Kings League’s playbook: combine high-caliber footballing pedigree with social media affect to maximise engagement.
Kings League Germany turns into the fifth worldwide iteration of the competitors, arriving sizzling on the heels of its Brazilian counterpart.
It joins the founding league in Spain, final yr’s Americas version, and the forthcoming Italian enlargement. Kosmos has made no secret of its international ambitions, with plans to ascertain leagues in North America, the Center East, and Asia by 2026.
Contact the author of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1739185943labto1739185943ofdlr1739185943owedi1739185943sni@g1739185943niwe.1739185943yrrah1739185943
