Marco Bezzecchi leads the field during the Moto3 race during the 2018 MotoGP of Malaysia. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)
Sports streaming service DAZN announced plans to expand its offering into Spain in 2019, with streaming rights to the English Premier League and MotoGP racing.
All EPL matches from the 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 seasons will broadcast exclusively in Spain on DAZN as part of a three-year deal that will stream more than 235 live games per season. This marks the first time that Premier League matches will be streamed legally in Spain.
“Football supporters in Spain are known around the world for their passion for the game,” said Premier League Executive Chairman Richard Scudamore in a press release. “We are very pleased to be working with DAZN over the next three seasons to make the best Premier League coverage available to fans across the country.”
Perform Group-owned DAZN’s other coup as part of its Spanish launch is an exclusive four-year deal to live stream every race across MotoGP sessions from 2019 to 2022. Spain represents one of MotoGP’s most popular markets, and the country hosts four grand prix each year. Both the Premier League and MotoGP were previously broadcasted in Spain on pay-TV channel Movistar, though the two sports leagues can now only be watched in Spain via DAZN’s subscription-based streaming service. (Some live and highlights MotoGP content will still be available through free-to-air TV.)
DAZN plans to add more sports to its Spanish platform before the service officially launches in 2019. Led by former ESPN president John Skipper, DAZN debuted in 2016 throughout Japan, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and a Canadian version was launched in 2017. DAZN launched in Italy and the United States this past August. DAZN also signed a historic five-year, $365 million deal with boxing star Canelo Alvarez.
“We’re expanding at an incredible pace with our unique approach, breathing new life into sports with long and distinguished heritages and growing audiences,” said Simon Denyer, CEO of DAZN Group, in the press release. “We give fans what they want; affordable and flexible access to the sport they love. We’re delighted to partner with these progressive rights holders to launch another big European market and look forward to unveiling more first-class sport before we go live in 2019.”
SportTechie Takeaway
Pricing for the Spanish platform was not announced, but for reference, DAZN’s U.S. service costs $9.99 per month. That cost is double the price of live streaming competitor platform ESPN+. DAZN also has exclusive rights to the EPL in Germany. The fact that both the EPL and MotoGP are ending their longtime presence on traditional television in Spain to stream exclusively on DAZN’s online platform speaks to the impact OTT streaming is having on the entire sports media industry.
