Sports subscription streaming service DAZN has snapped up a package of free-to-air domestic live broadcast rights covering Spanish soccer’s LaLiga.
In doing so, it replaces Mediapro, the previous holder of this rights package. The deal – for one live free-to-air (FTA) game per week – covers the 2025-26 and 2026-27 campaigns, and adds to the existing pay-TV package already held by DAZN (that deal was unveiled in late 2021).
LaLiga is compelled to sell one game per matchday to be exploited on a FTA basis because of government legislation last updated in 2022, which dictates that one game must be covered live “through open and/or state-owned audiovisual communications services.”
Last season, Mediapro showed these fixtures – which cannot feature heavyweights Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Valencia, or indeed any of the clubs involved in pan-European UEFA competition.
LaLiga had to abort the first two rounds of bidding for these rights, it has been reported, through a failure to attract interest that reached the reserve price. It has also been reported that the reserve price that DAZN met was €4 million ($4.5 million).
Oscar Vilda, chief executive of DAZN Iberia, said: “This new award of rights represents a key step in our growth strategy in Spain. Being able to offer LaLiga’s open game for the next two seasons gives us a unique opportunity to connect with new fans to discover the innovative experience offered by DAZN and the differential seal that characterizes our broadcasts.”
The sales process covering this package began in late March.
In recent days, DAZN and LaLiga have also concluded several rights deals in territories outside Spain – including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium.
These tie-ups come with the league’s 2024-25 season set to conclude over the weekend of May 24-25, with heavyweights Barcelona favorites to win the title.
The league’s other main domestic broadcast partner for the 2022-23 to 2026-27 cycle, alongside DAZN, is Telefonica-owned pay-TV network Movistar. DAZN and Movistar show five games each from the 20-team league each weekend. Sportcal