Global sports streaming giant DAZN has secured exclusive rights to broadcast Italy’s Serie A in France, Monaco, and Andorra for the 2025/26 season — continuing its aggressive push into top-tier football markets across Europe and beyond.
As part of the deal, DAZN will stream every Serie A fixture, along with Italy’s domestic knockout competitions — the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana. Fans will also be able to access highlight packages approximately one hour after full-time, ensuring round-the-clock content availability for the growing European fanbase.
A Step Up from Previous Broadcast Access
Last season, French audiences could only watch two live Serie A matches per week via L’Équipe, alongside standard highlights coverage. DAZN’s full-exclusivity marks a significant upgrade in visibility and availability for Italian football in the region.
This announcement follows DAZN’s recent acquisitions of Serie A rights in the UK, Ireland, and Spanish-language rights in the US and the Caribbean. The company also remains the main domestic broadcaster of Serie A in Italy itself, under a five-year deal reportedly worth €700 million per season.
DAZN’s Market Position in France
DAZN entered the French market with big ambitions — investing in rights for France’s LNB Élite basketball league, MMA events, and Ligue 1 football. However, its initial foray into Ligue 1 broadcasting was cut short after it failed to reach subscriber goals, leading to the termination of its rights deal after just one season.
Learning from that experience, DAZN has taken a more measured approach this time around. While it’s committed to Serie A as a full rights holder, it will also serve as a non-exclusive distribution partner for the Ligue 1+ direct-to-consumer (DTC) platform, a new initiative from France’s Professional Football League (LFP) set to launch in the coming weeks.
The Ligue 1+ offering — which includes eight live matches per round and a free weekly highlights show — will be available via DAZN not only in France but also in Monaco, Andorra, the UK, Ireland, and the US.
“This agreement is fully in line with our ambition to make the best sports content accessible to our subscribers,” said Brice Daumin, CEO of DAZN France.
The Bigger Picture: Serie A Eyes Global Expansion
DAZN’s deal comes as Serie A itself prepares for a landmark globalisation play — a proposal to stage the league’s first-ever domestic match outside Europe. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) recently approved plans for AC Milan’s home fixture vs. Como to be held in Perth, Australia on 6 February 2026, coinciding with San Siro’s use for the Winter Olympic opening ceremony.
While approvals are still needed from Football Australia, UEFA, the AFC, and FIFA, the proposal is seen as a pivotal moment in the global commercialisation of European football leagues.
What This Means for Rights Holders, Leagues, and Markets
DAZN’s move is more than a content acquisition — it’s a signal of strategic recalibration:
- From exclusive dominance to collaborative ecosystems (as seen with Ligue 1+)
- From local to hyper-global distribution hubs, targeting expat and crossover markets
- From traditional TV packages to sports-as-entertainment, with year-round digital experiences
For rights holders and leagues, the key takeaway is clear:
Linear contracts are no longer enough — DTC platforms, fan data, and global flexibility are the new currency.
The Serie A match in Perth, if approved, would mark a major shift in global football diplomacy, and open the door to time-zone-targeted programming, sport-tourism synergies, and APAC broadcast innovation.
