Nine years after its ambitious launch, sports streaming platform DAZN is finally approaching profitability — a milestone that could reshape the economics of digital sports broadcasting. Since debuting in 2016, DAZN set out to become the global hub for sports streaming and live experiences, taking on legacy broadcasters through aggressive rights acquisitions and rapid market expansion. But building that vision has come at a steep cost.
From Billion-Dollar Losses to a Turning Point
DAZN’s billionaire backer Len Blavatnik, through his investment firm Access Industries, has poured more than $7 billion into the platform since launch — including $587 million in 2024, up from $230 million in 2023. The scale of that investment underpinned DAZN’s rise from a start-up disruptor to a global streaming heavyweight.
However, the financial narrative is beginning to shift. EBITDA losses dropped to $778 million last year, down from $1.29 billion the year before, while revenues climbed 11% to $3.19 billion. CEO Shay Segev told the Financial Timesthat DAZN is on track to achieve profitability for the first time in 2026, noting that the platform hasn’t required additional capital injections so far this year.
Building the Global Model
DAZN’s early model raised eyebrows — low entry prices and high licensing ambitions led many to question whether its approach was sustainable. Launching in the UK with subscriptions under £2 per month, DAZN made bold plays for major rights, including the Premier League, but soon faced the reality of skyrocketing costs.
The platform’s global expansion in early 2020 was further disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted live sports and gutted content supply. Despite that setback, DAZN leveraged Blavatnik’s backing to rebuild and refocus.
Today, it holds key rights in major European markets — including the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League in Germany, Serie A in Italy, and Ligue 1 in France. Strategic acquisitions such as Eleven Sports in Europe and Foxtel in Australia have strengthened its portfolio and infrastructure. And in 2025, DAZN made a landmark move by broadcasting FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup globally for free, supported by advertising — signaling a major evolution in its revenue model.
Scaling Smart: Diversifying the DAZN Ecosystem
DAZN’s next phase is built around economies of scale and diversification beyond subscriptions. The platform’s growing size is driving better margin efficiency, while its product expansion is unlocking new income streams.
DAZN Bet, the company’s integrated betting service, is now live in the UK, Spain, Italy, and Germany, with further markets planned. Advertising is also emerging as a critical pillar of the business, as seen in DAZN’s ad-supported global broadcast of the Club World Cup. Though not yet disclosed in official filings, ad revenue is expected to become a major growth engine alongside core subscriptions.
According to the company, content breadth and flexible pricing models have helped fuel user growth and retention. DAZN’s hybrid model — combining premium rights, free-to-watch content, betting, and advertising — reflects a broader trend in sports streaming toward ecosystem-based monetization rather than pure subscription reliance.
365247 Insight
DAZN’s path to profitability represents more than a financial turnaround — it marks a strategic inflection point for the global sports media industry. The platform’s ability to sustain heavy investment, build rights portfolios across continents, and pivot into betting and advertising makes it one of the few players positioned to rival legacy broadcasters.
If DAZN delivers its first-ever profit next year, it could set a precedent for the next generation of digital-first sports networks — where global scale, diversified revenue, and platform-driven fan experiences define the new standard.
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