DAZN, a global streaming service that is largely known for its boxing coverage in the UK, is reportedly on the brink of agreeing on a deal to acquire BT Sport and its English Premier League (EPL) rights in a deal worth around £580 million.
BT Sport’s initial £385 million deal with the EPL ran from 2019 to 2022, before a three-year roll-over to 2025 following its extension following the Covid crisis.
At present, BT Sport holds the rights to 52 live Premier League games per season.
The broadcaster is also in the middle of a £1.2 billion three-year deal with UEFA for European club football until 2024, including the Champions League and the Europa League.
It also holds rights to UFC, MotoGP, Premiership Rugby, WWE, and other sports.
BT is in talks with the Premier League as it enters the final stage of offloading its sports TV business, with possible deals from Dazn and Discovery under discussion.
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Overall, Dazn, the “Netflix for sport” has established a following 11 million global customers, having expanded its presence across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia.
A potential stumbling block would be the reaction of television operators like Virgin Media and Sky who rely on the presence of channels like BT Sport etc to sell subscriptions.
The streaming giant recently acquired Matchroom Boxing from Eddie Hearn, replacing Sky Sports in a deal worth half billion pounds to stage fights in the US for the next five years.
