Telefónica Nearing La Liga Deal With DAZN

DAZN is reportedly close to a sublicensing deal with Telco Telefónica in which the latter would be able to stream all La Liga’s matches starting next season.

Telefónica pay-television network Movistar Plus has carried rights to all matches during the 2019-20 to 2021-22 seasons. In December, Movistar Plus struck a deal for only five fixtures each matchweek and exclusive rights to three matchweeks. DAZN secured exclusive rights to the other five fixtures.

The $5.61 billion, five-year deal with the broadcasters marked La Liga’s longest media rights pact and ended Movistar’s run as the league’s main domestic broadcaster.

If Telefónica is able to land the deal, it will be back to airing all La Liga’s games — this time with DAZN instead of MediaPro, the current company with which it carries a sublicensing deal. The MediaPro deal ends this year. 

• El Confidencial reports the new contract would be worth $1.6 billion.
• Telefónica’s current three-year deal is worth roughly $3.32 billion.

DAZN Wipes Debt

DAZN announced earlier this month that its primary shareholder, Access Industries, agreed to a $4.3 billion capital injection. The company said the recapitalization left DAZN without any borrowings at the end of 2021.

Access also reportedly subscribed for another $250 million of its shares.