Dazn Eyes Champions League Rights Amid Major Investment Moves

London, England — Dazn is poised to bid for global broadcasting rights for UEFA Champions League games starting in 2027. This bid marks another significant move for Saudi Arabia‘s investment in football, following the acquisition of a 10% stake in Dazn for $1 billion in February.

Previously, Dazn made headlines when it secured exclusive global rights for the Club World Cup for the same amount. The streaming service reported an audience of 2.7 billion views for the tournament, although this number reflects total views rather than unique viewers.

Encouraged by the engagement, Dazn is seeking global rights for the Champions League, now part of Uefa’s newly structured tender process for the 2027-31 cycle. For the first time, Uefa is releasing a global rights package, allowing the winning platform to stream the first pick of Tuesday’s games in all markets.

The joint venture, recently aligned with Uefa, values single game global rights at nearly £440 million annually, which translates to roughly £1.76 billion over the four-year period. The tender process is being managed by Relevent Sports, and aims to entice bids from other streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon, and Disney+.

Dazn’s global reach and technological capabilities distinguish it in the competitive streaming arena. Its coverage of 63 live games from the Club World Cup proceeded smoothly, although viewership in England remained modest.

Notably, Dazn enjoyed significant success in Brazil, where FIFA reported that 131 million people tuned in, accounting for 62% of the population. Similarly, in Italy and Spain, viewership reached 28 million and 24 million respectively, showcasing Dazn’s solid presence in those markets.

However, Dazn’s pursuit of Champions League rights occurs amidst a backdrop of cost-cutting. A directive from its owners emphasizes a shift toward profitability. While the company has been asked to trim expenses, there is a willingness to invest for major opportunities like the Champions League.

Recently, Dazn informed Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League of its desire to renegotiate a five-year deal for live rights worth $440 million, due to contractual challenges with traditional broadcasters. The absence of televised games means they are exclusive to the Dazn app.

In summer 2023, Dazn ended its contract for France’s Ligue 1 after just one season due to disappointing subscriber numbers. This decision is projected to yield savings of around €1.5 billion over four years, despite a €100 million termination fee.

Since launching in Europe and Asia, Dazn has made moves to minimize losses, which decreased from $1.4 billion to $936 million this year. According to CEO Shay Segev, they aim to achieve profitability by 2026 and aspire to become ‘the Spotify of sport.’ Dazn has yet to comment on its intentions regarding the Champions League.