Women's European Football Championship | "The most important sporting event of the year"

The Women's European Championship starts this Wednesday: How much do you hope that the German women's football team will reach the final again like they did three years ago?

Gerd Gottlob : I remember the spectacular 2022 European Championship final well: More than 18 million people watched England versus Germany. It was the football highlight of the year, with the highest ratings. Now the Women's European Championship is the most important sporting event for ARD and ZDF this year. Yorck Polus : The European Championship in England triggered an image change. It would be fantastic if the German women's football team could make it that far again—and not just because we're broadcasting the final this time.

Is the effort for ARD and ZDF comparable to the men’s European Championship in 2024 ?

Polus : There's no major difference in terms of approach, personnel, or production. Gottlob : We'll approach the European Championship with the same ambitions and even more output, since we're broadcasting all the women's games.

The fact that the men's Club World Cup is currently being broadcast free of charge on DAZN in the USA isn't competition?

Gottlob : It's a competition, but we can approach it with confidence: I trust the Germans' football instincts. Polus : I generally think it's a shame when a sport with two parallel major events takes away interest from each other. That's not a good sign from FIFA, since the date of the women's tournament was set much longer ago. However, the Women's European Championship will likely generate more interest than the Club World Cup .

It was also FIFA that threatened before the 2023 Women's World Cup that the rights would not be sold if bids were not increased. What happens if FIFA President Gianni Infantino demands the same media revenue for the 2027 Women's World Cup as for the men's event?

Polus : Basically, the market determines what happens. If new players offer large sums that we can't match, then that's the way it is. The value of women's football has steadily increased in recent years, to which we have contributed significantly. Gottlob : We have been a reliable partner for the DFB, UEFA, and FIFA in women's football since the early 1990s.

FIFA will soon expand the Women's World Cup to 48 teams. Is that correct?

Gottlob : I think it's the wrong approach because at some point there will be too much everywhere – and then interest will dwindle. Polus : I'm already looking ahead to the 2026 Men's World Cup with great concern. More than 100 games! No media outlet can handle that alone. When a product becomes too fragmented, that's never a good thing.

What needs to happen to make women’s club football more visible?

Gottlob : We also need to report more regularly. We show two to three matches every matchday via live streams, live broadcasts, or summaries on the Sportschau program. Polus : Development always needs a foundation; without a professional foundation, women's football won't progress. The national team at least has the power to create the next wave of excitement at this European Championship.

Female football commentators are repeatedly attacked online. What are you doing to combat such excesses of misogyny?

Gottlob : Bashing is a general problem. It makes me absolutely appalled and deeply incomprehensible. I always advise young female reporters not to look at the comment sections. Everyone has to find their own way of dealing with it, although it is certainly not easy. Polus : That also makes it difficult for young women to do live commentary. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but when someone is defamed because they are of a certain gender, that's the end of it for me. I come from rowing: Sabine Tschäge is the national coach of the eights. And she is not the first woman to coach men in this sport. There, such things are not an issue at all. Only football still has problems with equality from time to time.