DAZN Expected To Triple Bundesliga Rights in Europe

DAZN is poised to make another big move in international sports media rights.

German soccer league Bundesliga is expected to announce Monday that DAZN will start showing three matches per week from 2021-2025, according to sources.

Under the four-year deal, DAZN is poised to land exclusive rights to Friday night and Sunday afternoon Bundesliga matches in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. 

The deal is expected to triple DAZN’s Bundesliga portfolio, said sources. It could mark the largest package of domestic football rights ever awarded to a streaming sports service in Europe. 

DAZN is expected to steam over 100 matches per season. Besides streaming a third of Bundesliga matches, highlights from all matches are expected to be available on the platform. 

Sky, meanwhile, will have the rights to 200 Saturday matches. Despite expectations that Amazon would bid up the rights, the digital giant was a non-factor in negotiations, said sources.

The sports shutdown from the coronavirus impacted negotiations. Combined, DAZN and Sky will pay less than the $5.2 billion generated from Bundeslgia’s 2017-2021 TV agreement, according to the Associated Press.

DAZN and Bundesliga representatives either declined to comment or could not be reached for comment Sunday night.

READ MORE: DAZN Needs Cash

Bloomberg reported in October that DAZN, owned by billionaire Len Blavatnikn, was seeking another $500 million in financing to fund its expansion efforts. Meanwhile, Bundesliga returned to live matches in May. 

Starting in 2021, DAZN will also be the main German broadcaster of Champions League matches. DAZN is expected to have rights to 90% of Champions League matches in Germany.