Beckenbauer for Bundesliga expansion, Klinsmann against

Bayern Munich honorary president Franz Beckenbauer has supported plans to extend the Bundesliga to 20 teams to straight the line with other leading leagues across Europe such as England, France, Italy and Spain each all have 20. "We have the largest population and still have the luxury of a small league”, Beckenbauer commented to media. . The new format could also help to increase TV revenue from a broadcasting contract, which would come into effect in 2006.  The current €300m a-year deal with pay TV channel Premiere, public broadcasters ARD and ZDF and sports channel DSF expires at the end of the 2005/6 season. Premiere may be prepared to pay more for rights in return for greater exclusivity. Christian Seifert, the Bundesliga's commercial chief, said German football will consider staggering kick-off times across the weekend and becoming less "fan friendly" to clinch a better TV rights deal. Other major European leagues stagger their matches with different kickoff times throughout the weekend and on weekdays, helping them generate more money both from overseas deals and via pay-per-view at home. Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann opposes Franz Beckenbauer's proposal that the Bundesliga should expand. "The calendar is full. More important is the question of the quality of the league that's where we're losing out," Klinsmann told media.

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