Sports streaming platform DAZN is "set to take a big step toward its goal of becoming the Netflix of sports, with the online-TV service near picking off a chunk" of Champions League rights in Germany that had previously been on traditional TV, according to Nicola, Panja & Mayes of BLOOMBERG. DAZN is "closing in on exclusive rights to carry some of the games" alongside "bigger rival" Sky, according to people familiar with the matter. The rights deal, "potentially valued at about" €600M ($672.5M) in total, "could be announced within days," according to one of the sources. DAZN’s "looming victory is a watershed moment" for Europe's media industry because fans "will have to employ web-enabled devices, rather than broadcast TV." Lagardère Sports & Entertainment CEO Andrew Georgiou said, "Over-the-top as a platform is going to continue to grow. For traditional broadcasters, maintaining the status quo is going to be tough." The rights are for three seasons starting in '18, with Sky set to broadcast the "majority of the games" and DAZN "winning a smaller chunk," the sources said. It would be a "major victory" for DAZN, which "pipes sports content" such as football, tennis and basketball onto tablets, mobile phones and smart-TVs for about $10 per month (BLOOMBERG, 5/19).
