February 21 – Sports broadcaster DAZN can’t keep itself out of the news in one way or another. Hot on the heels of agreeing to a billion-dollar investment from the Saudi Public Investment Fund, they are now embroiled in a row with Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP).
DAZN is demanding a whopping €573 million from the league’s governing body claiming they have been duped by LFP in regard to the number of subscribers they hoped to gain when they acquired the rights to the league.
DAZN has been late on payments over the course of the 2024/25 season, and this month the company refused to pay clubs what they are owed.
The broadcaster’s refusal to pay is based upon many factors including their belief that Ligue 1 clubs are not doing enough to provide exclusive editorial content that drives viewers to subscribe to the platform. Additionally, DAZN has repeatedly raised concerns about piracy of their channel and the league’s inability to stop the theft of their content.
With Ligue 1 dragging their heels in response to the complaints, DAZN has taken legal steps and referred LFP to the Paris Commercial Court. The broadcaster believes they are owed €264m in compensation for a “breach” in the contract they initially signed with LFP. They are also demanding a further €309m for what they claim is “market dishonesty.”
According to the prominent French newspaper L’Équipe, DAZN is convinced that LFP did not give the broadcaster’s executives all the required elements regarding the marketing distribution of the league prior to signing a €375 million per-year deal.
L’Équipe adds that this dispute has the legs to drag on for years, summarizing that because DAZN initiated legal action, they are desperate to recoup their losses that run into the multi-millions.
The broadcaster has previously stated they need 1.5 million subscribers to break even on the deal, however, numbers are reportedly, well below that figure.
In January, the company reported losses of more than €1 billion across its entire platform, leading the owner Len Blavatnik to inject an additional €800 million.
The PIF partnership could not have come at a better time for the struggling broadcaster.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1740175170labto1740175170ofdlr1740175170owedi1740175170sni@o1740175170fni1740175170