DAZN pulls out of Pro League TV deal

Streaming platform DAZN has cancelled its multi-year contract to broadcast Belgium’s Pro League. It says the agreement has “ended in accordance with Belgian law”. The move follows months of tension between DAZN, the football clubs and major telecom operators.

DAZN had signed a five-season deal worth 84 million euros per year, but failed to secure distribution partnerships with major Belgian providers such as Proximus and Telenet. As a result, matches were only available via the DAZN app. The situation proved commercially unworkable, according to the company.

In a statement on Tuesday, DAZN said it had been “impossible to reach a commercially viable distribution agreement”, leaving it “no choice” but to conclude that its contract with the Pro League had come to an end.

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Although the contract is now effectively over, DAZN says it is willing to continue showing matches for the rest of the season under a new arrangement if an agreement with the Pro League can still be reached. The aim, it says, is to avoid disruption for supporters.

Consumer Affairs minister Rob Beenders previously warned that DAZN must refund customers if broadcasts disappear. “Fans have paid to watch football, not a black screen,” he said.

It remains unclear what the immediate impact will be for viewers as negotiations continue. 

^{#FlandersNewsService | A DAZN cameraman at the start of a football game between RSC Anderlecht and Club Brugge © BELGA PHOTO BRUNO FAHY}