DAZN Belgian Pro League Broadcast Deal: €84.2m Obligation
- The streaming service must maintain payments and broadcasts until the end of the current season, or face daily fines, according to a ruling by Cepani arbitration.
- The Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cepani) has mandated that DAZN continue fulfilling its contractual obligations to the Belgian Pro League,including production,distribution,payments,and negotiations with telecom operators.
- Lorin Parys, chief executive of the pro League, expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating, "We are satisfied that DAZN must honor its commitments… The winners of this ruling...
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DAZN Ordered to Continue Belgian Pro League Broadcasts Amid Contract Dispute
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The streaming service must maintain payments and broadcasts until the end of the current season, or face daily fines, according to a ruling by Cepani arbitration.
The Ruling and Its Implications
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cepani) has mandated that DAZN continue fulfilling its contractual obligations to the Belgian Pro League,including production,distribution,payments,and negotiations with telecom operators. Failure to do so will result in a fine of up to €50,000 (approximately US$58,630 as of January 4, 2024) per day.
Lorin Parys, chief executive of the pro League, expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating, ”We are satisfied that DAZN must honor its commitments… The winners of this ruling are our fans, our clubs and Belgian football as a whole.”
DAZN’s response and Legal Position
DAZN maintains that its termination of the contract was lawful and expects to be released from its obligations eventually. Massimo D’Amario, DAZN Belgium chief executive, clarified that the current ruling only addresses provisional measures, including interim payments, and does not constitute a judgment on the merits of DAZN’s legal position.
“DAZN remains convinced that the Cepani arbitration panel… will rule that the original contract ended lawfully,” D’Amario stated. DAZN also intends to raise concerns regarding compliance with competition law during the upcoming arbitration.
DAZN has expressed a willingness to negotiate ”balanced agreements that guarantee the necessary stability within a viable commercial framework.”
Background: the Pro League and DAZN Partnership
The Belgian Pro League partnered with DAZN in 2022, granting the streaming service exclusive broadcasting rights for the league’s matches. The deal was intended to modernize the league’s broadcasting strategy and reach a wider audience. However, tensions arose over the terms of the agreement, leading DAZN to attempt to terminate the contract. The specific reasons for DAZN’s attempted termination have not been fully disclosed publicly, but reportedly involve concerns over the financial viability of the deal and the league’s compliance with certain contractual obligations.
This dispute highlights the growing challenges faced by sports leagues and streaming services in navigating complex broadcasting agreements and adapting to the evolving media landscape.
competition Law Concerns
DAZN’s intention to raise competition law issues suggests potential concerns about the exclusivity of the broadcasting agreement and its impact on market competition. competition law aims to prevent monopolies and ensure fair practices in the marketplace. If DAZN can demonstrate that the agreement with the Pro League restricts competition, it could strengthen its case for lawful termination.