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).
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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."
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By GlobalDataThe 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.
