DAZN says it was duped by France’s Ligue 1 and calls for €573m in compensation

February 21 – Sports activities broadcaster DAZN can’t preserve itself out of the information in a technique or one other. Scorching on the heels of agreeing to a billion-dollar funding from the Saudi Public Funding Fund, they’re now embroiled in a row with Ligue de Soccer Professionnel (LFP).

DAZN is demanding a whopping €573 million from the league’s governing physique claiming they’ve been duped by LFP in regard to the variety of subscribers they hoped to realize once they acquired the rights to the league.

DAZN has been late on funds over the course of the 2024/25 season, and this month the corporate refused to pay golf equipment what they’re owed.

The broadcaster’s refusal to pay relies upon many components together with their perception that Ligue 1 golf equipment are usually not doing sufficient to offer unique editorial content material that drives viewers to subscribe to the platform. Moreover, DAZN has repeatedly raised considerations about piracy of their channel and the league’s incapability to cease the theft of their content material.

With Ligue 1 dragging their heels in response to the complaints, DAZN has taken authorized steps and referred LFP to the Paris Business Court docket. The broadcaster believes they’re owed €264m in compensation for a “breach” within the contract they initially signed with LFP. They’re additionally demanding an additional €309m for what they declare is “market dishonesty.”

In accordance with the distinguished French newspaper L’Équipe, DAZN is satisfied that LFP didn’t give the broadcaster’s executives all of the required parts concerning the advertising and marketing distribution of the league previous to signing a €375 million per-year deal.

L’Équipe provides that this dispute has the legs to pull on for years, summarizing that as a result of DAZN initiated authorized motion, they’re determined to recoup their losses that run into the multi-millions.

The broadcaster has beforehand acknowledged they want 1.5 million subscribers to interrupt even on the deal, nevertheless, numbers are reportedly, effectively under that determine.

In January, the corporate reported losses of greater than €1 billion throughout its complete platform, main the proprietor Len Blavatnik to inject a further €800 million.

The PIF partnership couldn’t have come at a greater time for the struggling broadcaster.

Contact the author of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1740101046labto1740101046ofdlr1740101046owedi1740101046sni@o1740101046fni1740101046