The 2024 National Football League (NFL) returns on 6 September, when reigning champions the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Baltimore Ravens in the season opener, before the regular season from 8 September. Following the broadcast of three preseason games during August, RTL Deutschland is returning for its second season as the NFL’s exclusive TV partner in Germany. This season, RTL Deutschland is further investing in its live broadcasts and cross-media content offering. To strengthen its presence in the US and bring the unique atmosphere directly to audiences in Germany, a German on-air team will regularly be seen on the sidelines for the first time.
To kick things off, presenter Jana Wosnitza and NFL expert Markus Kuhn will welcome fans from the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which will host the season opener between the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings on 8 September. The game will be broadcast at 19:00 during primetime on flagship channel RTL, followed by the Washington Commanders versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 22:25. RTL+ will exclusively stream the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Atlanta Falcons, also starting at 19:00, with pre-game coverage starting at 18:40.
NFL expert Patrick Esume and commentator Florian Schmidt-Sommerfeld will welcome fans on RTL in the early evening of Sunday 8 September, while Björn Werner and Jan Stecker will do the same later in the evening. Alongside Jana Wosnitza, Mitja Lafere will also act as a community host for all fans in Germany. On RTL+, NFL expert Adrian Franke, commentator Frederick Schulz and community host Alex von Kuczkowski will run the show. The top-class on-air team is completed by ex-NFL professionals Markus Kuhn and Sebastian Vollmer, who both live in the US.
Ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs versus Baltimore Ravens season opener, which will be broadcast on RTL at 01:50 on 7 September, the RTL+ documentary Jakob Johnson – Niemals Aufgeben (Jakob Johnson – Never give up) will celebrate its free-to-air TV premiere. The documentary follows the journey of the German ex-NFL professional Jakob Johnson. From 8 August, the first episode of the Emmy award-winning US series Hard Knocks - Training Camp with the Chicago Bears will be available on RTL+.
On 10 November, RTL Deutschland will celebrate the biggest American football highlight of the season when the Carolina Panthers take on the New York Giants in Munich’s Allianz Arena. To mark the occasion, RTL Deutschland has teamed up with Bromance Sports to host RTL NFL Live – The Watch Party from 14:00 in the brand-new ultra-modern SAP Garden. The indoor arena will host an extensive stage programme with ticket raffles, live acts and a special premiere: RTL will produce the NFL broadcast in front of a live audience for the first time. Audience members will have the chance to be part of the TV broadcast, together with well-known NFL experts and commentators.
