Belgian Football Returns to Traditional TV in DAZN Deal

Belgian football fans can once again watch Jupiler Pro League matches through their traditional television providers, after streaming platform DAZN reached last-minute distribution agreements with all four major Belgian telecom operators — Voo, Orange, Proximus, and Telenet. The deals, announced in rapid succession between May 4 and May 15, 2026, resolve a months-long dispute that had left domestic football exclusively available on DAZN’s own streaming platform at approximately €20 per month, as RTBF reports.

Background: A Turbulent Rights Cycle

The saga began in late 2024 when DAZN acquired the Pro League broadcasting rights for the 2025-2030 cycle in a deal worth €420 million (€84 million per year). While the price was lower than the previous contract, independent broadcasting rights expert Pierre Maes noted that “some observers considered the price still overvalued.”

When the 2025-26 season kicked off in July 2025, DAZN had failed to secure distribution agreements with any Belgian telecom operator, despite contractual obligations requiring at least two distribution partners. Matches were available only through DAZN’s app and website, cutting off traditional TV viewers — a significant barrier for older and less tech-savvy audiences.

Contract Dispute and Emergency Arbitration

By autumn 2025, negotiations with Proximus, Telenet, Orange, and Voo had collapsed. In November, DAZN attempted to terminate its contract with the Pro League, arguing that the failure to secure distribution partners voided the agreement. The Pro League responded by taking DAZN to emergency arbitration at CEPANI (the Belgian Centre for Arbitration and Mediation).

According to Sportcal, CEPANI ruled in favor of the Pro League in late December 2025, ordering DAZN to continue payments, production, and broadcasting through the end of the 2026-27 season, and to reopen distribution negotiations. DAZN complied with the ruling.

Pro League CEO Loryn Parys had previously described the situation as “a potential catastrophe for our clubs, especially our smaller ones for whom the amount of TV rights is comparatively larger,” warning that “if DAZN doesn’t pay the amount stipulated in the contracts, there is a risk that some will go bankrupt.”

The Distribution Breakthrough

The logjam broke in May 2026. Telenet, the Flanders-focused operator, signed the first distribution deal on May 4. Proximus, the national operator, followed on May 13. Finally, on May 15, Orange and Voo completed the sweep, as Sporza reported.

The agreements, covering the 2026-27 season starting August 2026, give subscribers access to four linear DAZN channels — two dedicated to Belgian football and two for international competitions — plus the DAZN app. Select matches from the current season’s Champions Play-offs are also included.

DAZN CEO Massimo D’Amario expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating: “On this way, DAZN makes Belgian football accessible again to many more football fans and also ensures greater visibility for Belgian football, for the clubs and for their sponsors.”

Analysis: Why Now?

Two non-exclusive explanations have emerged for the sudden breakthrough. First, DAZN may have reduced its financial demands to telecom operators to limit accumulated losses while awaiting the final CEPANI ruling on the merits of the case. As Maes explained, “traditionally, contracts with operators cover 80% of the investment” — meaning DAZN was operating at a significant loss without distribution deals.

Second, Canal+‘s acquisition of European competition rights (Champions League, Europa League) for Belgium starting in 2027 may have reshuffled the market, pushing operators to secure domestic football content while it was still available.

What’s Next

While the distribution agreements provide short-term relief, significant uncertainty remains. The final CEPANI ruling on the merits of the case is still pending — if DAZN wins, the Pro League could be required to reimburse the streaming platform for the current season’s costs.

Looking further ahead, Maes predicts that the next rights cycle (post-2030) will command a lower price than the current €84 million per year, reflecting DAZN’s difficulty in monetizing the Belgian market. “The only thing we’re certain of,” he concluded, “is that at the expiration of the contract in five years, potential buyers of the rights who succeed DAZN will offer a lower amount than €84 million per year.”

For now, however, Belgian football fans can look forward to the 2026-27 season knowing their domestic league will once again be accessible through the television providers they already use.