International sports streaming heavyweight DAZN has brought in a new chief executive (CEO) for its Italian business, with incumbent Stefano Azzi being replaced by Andrea Faelli.
Azzi has been DAZN Italia's CEO since March, 2022 – with previous roles including nine years at telecoms giant TIM – but is now taking his leave.
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Faelli, meanwhile, has been the regional director of international sports betting giant Entain – covering Italy, France, Belgium, and Greece – since September, 2024.
Before that, he held senior roles at specific Entain brands Bwin Italia and Eurobet Italia.
This change at the helm of DAZN Italia follows on from that broadcaster appointing Antonella Dominici as its new chief revenue officer, unveiled in mid-May.
In the new role, she will lead the platform’s revenue strategy and the development of commercial activities and partnerships.
DAZN is currently broadcasting the 2026 FIFA World Cup national team soccer tournament in Italy – and earlier this month, announced a distribution deal with the Amazon Prime Video platform.
It holds exclusive streaming rights for the entire competition in Italy and will broadcast all 104 World Cup matches, while public-service broadcaster Rai will offer 35 matches free-to-air.
DAZN’s rights portfolio in Italy also includes top-tier soccer's domestic Serie A through 2028-29, Spanish soccer's LaLiga, and the European Volleyball Champions League.
However, in early May, a lawsuit worth €1.9 billion ($2.2 billion at the time) was launched against it by pay-TV heavyweight Sky Italia, over the results of a 2023 antitrust ruling.
Sky Italia is seeking €1.1 billion in damages, potentially rising to €1.9 billion with interest and other associated compensation, related to the 2021-22 to 2023-24 Serie A media rights cycle.
