DAZN is planning to spend around US$2.5 billion on global media rights this year, according to former MP & Silva chief executive Jochen Lösch.
The over-the-top (OTT) streaming service holds rights to a broad portfolio of sports content in markets across Europe, Asia, North America and South America.
Speaking at the SPOBIS conference in Düsseldorf last month, Lösch apparently revealed onstage that a DAZN executive told him ‘first-hand’ that the company is seeking to expand its rights portfolio in 2019.
The insight into DAZN’s spending ambitions comes amid reports that DAZN is interested in acquiring rights to Champions League and La Liga soccer matches as part of its new Spanish service, which will be launched next month.
According to a report from the Spanish newspaper El Pais, DAZN has asked the telecommunications company Telefónica for clarification over the cost of the rights.
DAZN’s Spanish offering already includes live MotoGP, World Rally Championship, Euroleague Basketball, and Premier League soccer, and is looking add rights to the Champions League and La Liga.
Last year, Telefónica secured a deal to carry Spain’s top two division, La Liga and Segunda Division through the 2022 season, in addition to the Champions League until the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
However, the telecommunications firm is now looking to offload the packages on a wholesale basis. It was reported last month that Mediapro, the Spanish rights agency is considering the launch of its own OTT soccer streaming service, which could include sublicensed La Liga rights.
DAZN was approached about its ambitions for 2019 but did not wish to comment.