DAZN Must Pay 85% of Belgian Football TV Rights for 2026-27 Season

The Belgian Centre for Arbitration and Mediation (CEPANI) has issued a provisional ruling ordering streaming platform DAZN to pay 85% of the contracted television rights fees — approximately €71.6 million — to the Pro League for the 2026-2027 season, according to RTBF. The decision rejects DAZN’s bid to pay only 60% of the contract value while granting the company a partial reduction from the full amount.

Background of the Dispute

In December 2024, DAZN acquired the broadcasting rights for Belgian professional football for the 2025-2030 cycle, committing to pay €84.2 million per season in a deal valued at approximately €421 million overall. The streaming platform’s strategy relied on sublicensing broadcast rights to traditional telecom operators, but by November 2025, DAZN announced it could not honor the contract, claiming the agreement was financially unviable after failing to reach distribution agreements with major Belgian telecom providers.

Pro League CEO Lorin Parys described the contract termination as “an attack on Belgian football” at the time, as reported by HLN. The Pro League took DAZN to CEPANI, which issued a first provisional ruling on December 31, 2025, ordering DAZN to continue honoring its contractual commitments.

The New Ruling

With the 2026-2027 season approaching and the final arbitration decision not expected until 2027, CEPANI issued a second provisional ruling on June 26, 2026. The arbitrators determined that DAZN must pay 85% of the contracted €84.2 million — approximately €71.6 million — rather than the 60% (roughly €50.6 million) that DAZN had proposed.

According to Voetbalnieuws, the ruling represents a significant financial commitment for DAZN, which had hoped for a steeper reduction. The arbitrators based their decision on a financial review of Belgian professional clubs, concluding that most clubs are sufficiently stable to absorb the reduced payment. Within the Pro League, this assessment is viewed positively.

DAZN cannot appeal this provisional decision. The ruling saves the streaming platform approximately €12.6 million compared to the full contract value, while the Pro League and its clubs face a €12.6 million shortfall versus the original agreement.

Implications for Clubs and Fans

For Belgian professional clubs, the ruling provides a measure of financial certainty for the upcoming season, allowing them to plan budgets and transfers with a predictable revenue stream of approximately €71.6 million. As Voetbalkrant noted, DAZN had hoped to reduce the fee to just 60% of the contract amount, a scenario that would have cost the Pro League and its clubs tens of millions of euros extra — a situation now avoided.

For fans, Belgian football will continue to be broadcast through both DAZN and traditional telecom operators. Throughout early 2026, DAZN reached distribution agreements with Telenet (May 4), Proximus (May 13), and Orange/VOO (May 15), restoring access for viewers who prefer watching through their existing television providers.

What Happens Next

The provisional nature of the ruling means the final outcome remains uncertain. If the Pro League is fully vindicated in the final CEPANI decision, expected during the 2026-2027 season, it could still collect the additional 15% of the contract value. Conversely, DAZN could reclaim money if the final ruling favors its position.

The broader question of DAZN’s long-term commitment to the Belgian market remains open. The streaming platform’s difficulties in a relatively small market like Belgium have raised questions about the viability of direct-to-consumer sports streaming models for smaller European leagues. The final CEPANI decision, expected in 2027, could set a significant precedent for how streaming platforms can renegotiate sports broadcasting contracts when facing distribution challenges.

For now, Belgian football enters the 2026-2027 season with broadcasting continuity secured, clubs facing a manageable but real revenue reduction, and all parties awaiting the definitive arbitration decision that will ultimately determine the financial landscape of the dispute.