Bayer Leverkusen have hit out at German TV network ZDF, saying that the Champions League rights holder treats them unfairly, and have urged them to show their matches on free TV.
Public service broadcaster ZDF bought the rights to Champions League ahead of the 2013-14 season and the contract allows it to show one game per matchday live on free TV.
During the group stages, ZDF has to air one of the two games with German participation on Wednesday night while all other European matches can only be viewed on pay TV.
The four Bundesliga clubs taking part in the Champions League are separated into two groups, with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund not allowed to play on the same day.
On the first four match days, ZDF has opted for Bayern Munich's home matches against Manchester City and Roma, as well as Borussia Dortmund's away games at Anderlecht and Galatasaray.
Fans of Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke -- the other two German Champions League participants -- have to either head to the stadium, watch the match on Pay TV, go into a pub or wait for the highlights on ZDF.
On Wednesday, some 6.75 million followed Borussia Dortmund's 3-0 away victory at Anderlecht on ZDF, and, in quotes reported by several German media outlets, Leverkusen hit out at the rights holder.
"I find it unfair," Bayer Leverkusen CEO Michael Schade said, criticising the ZDF's decision following his side's 3-1 win against Benfica, which was played in front of 25,202 spectators at the 29,412-capacity BayArena.
"On paper, the match between Leverkusen and [Benfica] Lisbon is more attractive," he said, arguing that ZDF only eyed the viewing figures. "But I think public service broadcasters have other duties."
In Germany, the public service broadcasters ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio are funded by mandatory fees from every household, collected by the Beitragsservice -- the fee service.
The public service broadcasters have an educational mandate, with the fulfillment of that mandate being questioned by many critics, some of them arguing that Champions League football is not part of it.
ZDF however rejected the criticism: "We can only show one match, and already in the forefront decided to show the Dortmund match."
Only a few weeks ago, ZDF head of sport Dieter Gruschwitz said that when making the decision they also consider "which matches will attract the biggest interest nationwide" and "that past experiences are an important criteria in that process."
In Bild he added: "Mr. Schade has the right to level criticism -- as long as it remains fair.
"Because of their past successes Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have a certain priority. But that does not rule out that we'll broadcast Leverkusen or Schalke in the knockout stages."