- Five-year pact ends after half a season due to failure to agree viable distribution deals
- DAZN open to broadcasting Pro League for remainder of campaign
- League to take ‘all necessary legal steps’ to ensure DAZN honours agreement
Belgian soccer’s Pro League is at risk of a domestic broadcast blackout after its rights deal with DAZN was terminated.
The two parties had signed a deal worth €84.2 million (US$97.4 million) per year in December 2024 covering the 2025/26 to 2029/30 cycle. This was a significant decrease from the €103 million (US$119 million) annual agreement signed by Eleven Sports, now owned by DAZN, in 2020.
The terms of the deal required DAZN, as the exclusive rights holder, to secure wider coverage by signing distribution deals with other media partners who could broadcast live Pro League matches to a broader audience.
Despite talks with the likes of Orange, Proximus and Telenet, DAZN was unable to reach any agreements, meaning the subscription streaming service was the only place to watch Pro League games in Belgium.
DAZN stated that despite discussions with the Pro League, it has been ‘impossible’ to find a solution and left the company ‘with no alternative but to observe the ending of the agreement with the Pro League’.
DAZN also emphasised that it had met all its financial obligations ‘in full transparency’ and within the contractual timelines to date.
“We are disappointed to have reached a situation where, despite various attempts to resolve the situation, DAZN has no alternative but to observe the extinction of the contract under Belgian law,” said Massimo D’Amario, managing director of DAZN Belgium.
“No company should be forced to operate at a loss. That’s simply not a sustainable business. For the past five years, our Belgian operation has stood beside the Pro League, its clubs, and its supporters – proof of our long-term commitment to Belgian football.
“Our team in Belgium continue to serve fans with professionalism and respect. We remain committed to Belgian football – to its passion, its people, and the fairness it deserves.”
The Pro League released a statement saying it ‘is stunned by this communication and will take all necessary legal steps to ensure that DAZN honours the agreements made’.
‘Over the past few months, the Pro League has consistently maintained a constructive approach in its discussions with DAZN,’ the Pro League continued. ‘The Pro League regrets that DAZN is now unilaterally terminating the partnership. This demonstrates a complete lack of respect for our football, the clubs, and the fans.
‘Together with the clubs, we, the Pro League, cannot accept such an attack on our football. DAZN remains responsible for producing and broadcasting Belgian football for the fans.’
The current situation means this weekend’s Pro League fixtures may not be broadcast domestically if the top flight cannot find a short-term solution. The termination of the contract could also have serious consequences for Belgian clubs, which rely heavily on TV rights as a key source of revenue.
However, a reconciliation between the Pro League and DAZN isn’t necessarily off the table. The streamer has stated that it is ‘open to further discussions’ and remains willing under a new agreement ‘to continue broadcasting for the remainder of the season to ensure fans will not be impacted’.
DAZN added that it had contacted its customers with access to Pro League content and would update them regularly as the situation clarifies.
If the league fails to secure a domestic broadcast deal, it could consider launching a direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service, having already reportedly explored this option amid the ongoing issues with DAZN.
Doing so would see the Pro League join France’s Ligue 1, which became the first of Europe’s ‘Big Five’ soccer leagues to roll out a DTC streaming service in its domestic market this season after the French Professional Football League’s (LFP) five-year deal with DAZN was terminated after just one season.
Technology is revolutionising every corner of our industry. That’s why we’re launching a major new project showcasing the biggest tech trends, innovations and opportunities defining the future of sport – and we need your input. Take the survey to share your perspective and be in with a chance to win an annual SportsPro+ membership. Click here.
