This week the DAZN empire got even bigger with the addition of the English Premier League. Rumour has it that DAZN has negotiated the broadcasting rights for all EPL games in Canada. This is a major shift in soccer Broadcasting in Canada where TSN and Sportsnet have long held control of these rights. When it comes to sports broadcasting in Canada, both TSN and Sportsnet have had a stranglehold on the market. If you are going to watch sports on cable it will be through one of those two avenues. CBC also holds a large amount of the Canadian sports market share as well. They have significant broadcasting rights with the NHL and the Olympics.
The acquisition of the rights to broadcast the EPL in Canada is just another notch in what is becoming a very long belt for DAZN. The sports streaming company based out of England made its big move into North America last year by snagging up the rights to show the NFL in Canada. This was a huge deal that brought DAZn into the mainstream streaming discussion. This is what got me onboard but as I have said before, there are many other sports to watch. What has been impressive is how relentless they are in bringing new sports and leagues into the fold.
Their biggest plays this year have been in the world of soccer. I started to notice is over the summer but paid little attention since I have never considered myself a big soccer fan. Well, there has been a huge sift in my appreciation for the sport of soccer and with that a joy with the growth that DAZN has and is still achieving. Just in August, DAZN was able to secure the rights to show UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. They already have the right to most soccer leagues through the UK but are now setting sights on overseas markets. Not only are the acquiring big deals, but they are also getting huge names behind them as well. Christiano Ronaldo became the ambassador for DAZN around the same time they secured the UEFA deals.
At this point, it appears that the sky's the limit for DAZN. They are quickly becoming the NETFLIX of the sports streaming world and customer acquisition is on the rise. I can only wonder what will be next. They already have the rights to all four major North American sports in Europe and they are starting to put a dent in the big broadcaster armor here in Canada and the US. As a Canadian, I wonder if they will ever be able to get a share of the NHL broadcasting rights here. My first thought would be, not a chance but with the determination that the company is showing and the fact that they continue to take control of big broadcasting rights, who know. Anything is possible.
