DAZN commits to Belgian Pro League coverage until end of 2026–27

DAZN has committed to continue producing and broadcasting Belgian Pro League matches until the end of the 2026–27 season, according to statements made by the streamer’s lawyers in a Brussels court.The on-air pledge extends beyond DAZN’s current obligation to carry the league until June 30, 2026, which was imposed under emergency arbitration after the company attempted to terminate the deal late last year.The latest commitment emerged during proceedings tied to online piracy measures, with the case involving challenges from major technology firms over site-blocking requirements linked to DAZN’s Belgian football rights.The dispute has been a live issue for the Pro League since DAZN’s December 2024 renewal, after the streamer struggled to secure distribution partnerships with major telecom operators, leaving matches primarily available via its own direct-to-consumer app.DAZN Belgium chief executive Massimo D’Amario said earlier in the process: “It is important to emphasize that these provisional measures, including on interim payments, do not pass any judgment on DAZN’s legal position in the ongoing dispute with the Pro League.“DAZN remains convinced that the CEPANI arbitration panel that will be constituted in the coming weeks will rule that the original contract ended lawfully. DAZN expects the arbitration panel to rule also on important issues of compliance with competition law.”The Pro League’s emergency action was triggered after DAZN withheld a scheduled payment while continuing to show matches, arguing it could not make the economics work without a viable carriage arrangement with leading operators such as Proximus and Telenet.Under the interim measures ordered by arbitrators, DAZN was required to keep broadcasting and paying through the current season, as well as maintain production commitments and elements of its anti-piracy and geo-blocking obligations.Commercially, the new 2026–27 commitment gives the Pro League additional certainty in the run-up to a season that will be shaped by ongoing structural and media-market change, while allowing DAZN more time to pursue distribution outcomes that broaden reach beyond its own platform.The situation has become a reference point in European rights discussions because it highlights the exposure rights holders face when a premium package is pushed into a largely standalone streaming model without extensive third-party distribution.The court disclosure also strengthens the Pro League’s position against piracy, since live enforcement and blocking strategies are easier to justify and operationalise when the rights holder can demonstrate a continued commitment to serve the market legally.DAZN’s longer-term contract position beyond 2026–27 remains unclear, with the broader arbitration and commercial negotiations still central to whether the relationship stabilises on revised terms or becomes another example of a rights reset driven by distribution constraints.