Mediaset, the Italian commercial broadcaster, has agreed a sublicensing deal with global streaming service DAZN to show soccer’s revamped Club World Cup (CWC) club competition.
Through the agreement, Mediaset will broadcast one match from the US-based tournament per day free-to-air, choosing from the best fixtures scheduled in the evening slot.
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The broadcaster and DAZN will additionally collaborate on cross-promotion, marketing, and advertising sales.
Mediaset will also provide editorial coverage of the CWC through its news and sports programs.
The CWC will feature two Italian teams – Juventus and Inter Milan.
DAZN secured exclusive global rights to the CWC – to be held in the US across June and July – last December, for around $1 billion.
The OTT platform will show all 63 games for free but has also agreed sublicensing deals in key markets in recent weeks to recoup some of its large investment.
Earlier this week, the TNT Sports network signed a deal with DAZN to show 24 of the tournament’s games across the US, which marked the second tie-up in the country following an agreement with Spanish language media group TelevisaUnivision to air 18 matches across its Univision, UniMás, and TUDN platforms.
Last month, meanwhile, an Egyptian sub-licensing deal for the tournament was agreed with MBC Group, the Saudi-owned FTA broadcaster.
In late February, the Iris Sport Media agency secured distribution rights across sub-Saharan Africa for broadcast coverage of the tournament.
The CWC, which kicks off on June 14 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, features the top 32 clubs in the world, playing 63 matches over 29 days.
The revamped CWC will feature a new format in which continental governing bodies, apart from the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), receive multiple team slots.
Europe’s UEFA, with 12, will have the most teams. As well as the Italian duo, the lineup will include Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, PSG, Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, and Red Bull Salzburg.
DAZN’s agreement with Mediaset expands an existing relationship between the two parties in Italy.
The pair have an ad sales deal for DAZN’s coverage of the domestic top-flight Serie A running through 2028-29.
Stefano Azzi, CEO of DAZN in Italy, said: “The partnership signed with Mediaset is part of the broader distribution strategy developed at a global level. We are happy to have chosen Mediaset as a strategic partner by renewing and expanding a successful synergy already consolidated in Italy.”
Stefano Sala, CEO of Mediaset, added: “As part of a successful partnership that has been ongoing for four years on Serie A, it was natural to continue this partnership between Mediaset and DAZN and join forces to offer FIFA and the market the best platform for broadcasting the event.
“Together, DAZN and Mediaset will develop in Italy a number of viewers for live matches equal to over 50 million total viewers, to which Mediaset will add editorial coverage in news and sports programs that will develop over 300 million total viewers.”
