RTL is shaking things up for sports and entertainment fans alike with its new broadcasting plan integrating the Europa League and Dschungelcamp, creating an unprecedented viewing experience.
The Europa League for the 2024/25 season is stepping away from tradition with some significant changes. Instead of the conventional group stages, UEFA has introduced a new league format, which will feature 36 teams competing against eight opponents each. According to RTL’s report, each club will have four home games and will have to travel for four away matches during the preliminary phase.
The initial eight places at the end of this league format will secure automatic advancement to the Round of 16. The remaining teams ranked from 9 to 24 will battle it out for playoff spots, and those finishing 25th to 36th will be knocked out of the tournament—making for some intense match-ups.
This season is particularly exciting not only for its new format but also due to how it will be broadcasted. RTL Group has secured exclusive broadcasting rights through to 2027, which means fans will be able to catch select Europa League matches on free-to-air TV via channels RTL and Nitro, as well as streaming on RTL+.
Some of the significant matches viewers can look forward to include:
- Midtjylland vs. Hoffenheim on September 25, 2024.
- Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Viktoria Pilsen on September 26, 2024.
- Beskitas Istanbul vs. Eintracht Frankfurt on October 3, 2024.
- FC Porto vs. TSG Hoffenheim on October 24, 2024.
- Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Ferencvárosi TC on January 23, 2025.
For those who wish to engage more deeply, RTL+ provides several subscription packages, ranging from €6.99 monthly for single-device viewing to €14.99 monthly for family access, allowing up to four devices to stream without advertisements.
But that's not all—on Thursday nights, fans will be treated to something truly extraordinary: the Dschungelcamp-Fußball-Konferenz, where soccer meets reality TV! RTL has arranged for concurrent airing of the Europa League match featuring Eintracht Frankfurt alongside the latest from the longstanding Dschungelcamp series.
This innovative conference began live streaming at 20:15 CET, featuring expert commentary from Ansgar Brinkmann, who is not only known for his football prowess but also as a former Dschungelcamp contestant. Joined by commentator Robby Hunke, they seamlessly switch between the excitement of goals and highlights from the soccer match and the drama erupting from the camp.
The unique crossover taps nicely on the enduring popularity of both formats. The show, which has drawn viewers since its inception, continues its current season with noted personalities such as Boris Becker's ex-wife Lilly and renowned athlete Jürgen Hingsen. Fans can choose to engage with the Dschungelcamp’s antics without missing key football moments.
Viewers of Frankfurt's game may find themselves torn between two significant events, as the match against AS Rom will broadcast at 21:00 CET on January 30, 2025. Frankfurt, currently sitting second on the table with 16 points, needs at least one point from this encounter to secure its place in the knockout rounds, having fierce competition with teams close behind.
Meanwhile, for those wanting to focus solely on the football, the stipulation remains if they want to avoid the interruptions of jungle gossip and drama, they can opt to watch the single match on either RTL or via RTL+.
This special format highlights RTL’s commitment to engaging diverse viewership—merging traditional sports broadcasts with reality show entertainment, thereby creating more appealing content to captivate its audience. By doing so, they have catered to the simultaneous demands of sports fans and reality show enthusiasts, providing something truly novel this season.