Deutsche Telekom and pay-TV operator Premiere AG announced a partnership that would allow them to broadcast German first-division soccer matches over the Internet, an Associated Press report said.
Premiere lost the live television rights to the Bundesliga last December to a rival consortium of cable television operators, the report said.
Deutsche Telekom, which won the online rights, said the link-up would allow it to draw on Premiere's years of experience in broadcasting league matches, according to the report.
The telco would offer live first- and second-division matches from the beginning of next season, the report said. It would use its new high-speed VDSL network for the broadcasts.
The report said the network was expected to go into operation in 10 major cities by the end of June, and should be expanded to another 40 cities by the middle of next year.