Radja Nainggolan of AS Roma competes for the ball with Paulo Dybala of Juventus during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus at Stadio Olimpico on May 13, 2018 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Global sports streaming service DAZN is launching in Italy with expansive broadcast rights. Its inventory includes more than 100 matches of the top domestic football league, Serie A, as well as complete packages for France’s Ligue 1 and Spain’s La Liga. From the U.S., DAZN will air MLB and NHL games, including the World Series and Stanley Cup Finals.
The service launched in Italy on Thursday and will carry its first marquee sporting event Saturday afternoon when Paris Saint-Germain plays Monaco in the French Super Cup. DAZN’s Serie A coverage begins two weeks later, on Aug. 14, and will total 114 live and exclusive matches over each of the next three seasons.
“Today marks the start of a brand-new era for sport broadcasting in Italy and another step on our journey to become the world’s leading global sports broadcaster,” said DAZN CEO James Rushton in a press release. “After months in the making, we’re proud to unveil a hugely compelling line-up of content, all in one place, for one affordable monthly fee and no long-term contract. Guided by our fan-first philosophy, we already have a stellar track record in our existing markets by creating a better and fairer way to watch top sport that is tailor-made for modern viewing habits.”
DAZN’s rights deals also include continental soccer tournaments such as the Copa Sudamericana and the Africa Cup of Nations, as well as the annual FA Cup, a knockout tournament across all divisions of English soccer. The offering will also include extensive rugby, boxing, and MMA. The monthly price is €9.99 ($11.58).
“DAZN will deliver a standout line-up of talent to narrate in the best possible way the Serie A and all the sports,” said DAZN Italy’s head of sports, Marco Foroni, in the news release. “We will provide to fans analysis, in-depth focuses, passion and stats with a fresh and innovative style. We’re delighted with the names that will be with us from August in this adventure. And we will announce soon other contributors that will complete our line-up.”
SportTechie Takeaway
DAZN has been aggressive in expanding into new markets. Building off prior debuts in Germany, Japan, Austria, Switzerland, and Canada, the streaming service will also enter the U.S. market next month. This Italian debut follows the blueprint of the first five countries where it has launched, given its breadth of marquee rights there. The American DAZN will initially emphasize fight sports “to be famous” at something, Rushton has said, and provide an entry point to the market. DAZN ought to have an easier time in Italy because its roster of sporting events includes so many desirable properties. The fact that Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Juventus in Serie A can only help, too.
Be the first to comment