Global sports streaming platform DAZN has finalized a sublicensing deal with ESPN to bring top-tier U.S. college football and basketball to audiences in the UK, parts of Europe, and the MENA region. The multi-year agreement significantly expands DAZN’s premium rights portfolio and enhances access to American college sports outside of the United States.
What Fans Will Get
Starting this year, DAZN subscribers in the covered markets will gain access to:
- Up to 25 exclusive college football games per week during the regular season.
- Coverage of teams from powerhouse conferences including the SEC, ACC, and Big 12.
- The College Football Playoff and national championship game.
- About 20 men’s and women’s basketball games weekly.
- 63 March Madness games, including all Elite Eight, Final Four, and championship matchups.
The agreement covers key international territories: the UK, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Portugal, Poland, Belgium, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Bulgaria, the Philippines, and the wider MENA region. Notably, football rights also extend to the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).
ESPN’s Rights Strategy
For ESPN and parent company Disney, the sublicensing move represents a broader trend of monetizing rights portfolios globally. Last year, ESPN sublicensed early-round College Football Playoff games to Warner Bros. Discovery in the U.S. DAZN now represents Disney’s latest partner in maximizing international reach for NCAA properties.
DAZN’s Growing Global Footprint
Although its profile remains smaller in the U.S., DAZN has steadily built a comprehensive library of major sports rights internationally, including coverage of the NFL through Game Pass and NHL.TV. The company now delivers more than 110,000 live events annually across 200+ markets.
Shay Segev, DAZN Group CEO, emphasized the deal’s significance:
“This agreement allows DAZN to expand its global offering of premium North American sports properties, extending beyond NFL Game Pass and NHL.TV. It also broadens access to U.S. sports content and supports the growth of college football and basketball fanbases internationally.”
From Disney’s perspective, Diego Londono, SVP Networks & Sports EMEA, described the partnership as a chance to better serve European sports fans during the NCAA season, leveraging DAZN’s international reach.
Strategic Significance
This deal signals several key trends in global sports media:
- College Sports as a Global Product – Once considered a primarily domestic market, NCAA football and basketball are now being positioned for international growth, mirroring the expansion strategies of the NFL and NBA.
- Sublicensing as a Revenue Lever – For ESPN, selectively sublicensing rights allows Disney to maximize value while maintaining control of core properties.
- Streaming Platforms as Global Gatekeepers – DAZN’s ability to aggregate rights across geographies demonstrates how digital-first platforms are increasingly shaping access to sports worldwide.
For fans, the deal means unprecedented access to one of America’s most tradition-rich sports ecosystems. For rights holders, it represents a new chapter in turning college athletics into a global media asset.
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