Spanish basketball’s top division, the Liga ACB, has confirmed a major shift in its domestic media rights. After nearly a decade with Movistar, the league will move to DAZN under a new three-year agreement starting with the 2025-26 season.
The partnership covers every stage of the league — from the regular season to the playoffs and finals — as well as the prestigious Copa del Rey knockout competition.
The End of an Era with Movistar
Movistar, owned by telecoms giant Telefónica, has been the home of Liga ACB since 2015, providing exclusive coverage across its pay-TV and streaming platforms. The broadcaster’s deal grew significantly in value over time, reportedly rising to €20 million per season for its final rights cycle (2023-25).
During its tenure, Movistar offered extensive coverage, including up to four live games every Sunday in earlier contracts, and later full rights to the Liga ACB, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa. For Spanish basketball, this relationship marked a period of stability and financial growth, but also exclusivity that limited free-to-air exposure.
Why DAZN, and Why Now?
The decision to pivot to DAZN reflects broader industry dynamics:
- Financial Trade-Offs: Reports suggest DAZN will pay between €14–14.5 million per year, less than Movistar’s fee. However, the lower rights value is offset by DAZN’s willingness to push accessibility.
- Return to Free-to-Air: For the first time since the 2015-16 season, Liga ACB fans could see one game per week available on free TV. DAZN is in discussions with TVE (Spain’s public broadcaster) and FORTA (a consortium of regional broadcasters) to make this happen.
- Digital First Strategy: DAZN’s global model emphasizes streaming flexibility and multi-device access, a significant shift from Movistar’s pay-TV base.
The Strategic Shift for Spanish Basketball
This move is more than just a change of broadcaster. It underlines three important shifts in the Liga ACB’s positioning:
- Balancing Reach and Revenue – While the DAZN deal brings in less money, the return of free-to-air exposure could increase audience growth and sponsor visibility, boosting the league’s long-term commercial potential.
- Adapting to Streaming Trends – Basketball is increasingly consumed by younger, digital-first audiences. DAZN’s multi-platform accessibility is a natural fit for this demographic shift.
- Reviving National Engagement – With TVE and FORTA potentially back in the fold, Liga ACB can reconnect with casual fans who were left out by Movistar’s exclusive paywall.
365247 Insight
The Liga ACB’s decision to trade a higher immediate rights fee for broader exposure represents a strategic recalibration. By moving to DAZN and exploring free-to-air distribution, the league is betting on long-term growth over short-term revenue maximization.
This shift mirrors trends across global sports: properties are realizing that visibility and cultural relevance often outweigh maximum broadcast fees, especially in an era where sponsors demand reach, not just premium pay-TV audiences.
For Spanish basketball, this marks the beginning of a new cycle: one defined not by exclusivity, but by accessibility, digital-first delivery, and audience expansion.
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