DAZN, the OTT service operated by digital sports media company Perform, has secured rights in Italy to the Pro14 cross-border rugby union league as it unveiled its full line-up for its launch in the country.
In June, Perform confirmed the introduction of DAZN into Italy by acquiring rights for 114 matches per season from the top-tier Serie A club football competition covering the three seasons from 2018-19 to 2020-21. It then secured rights for Serie B across the same window.
Its three-season agreement with the Pro14, running from 2018-19 to 2020-21, ensures that fans of Italian clubs Benetton Rugby and Zebre Rugby will see every one of their team’s home and away matches with coverage of the championship including the Pro14 Final Series games and the Final itself.
The DAZN deal completes the list of broadcast partners in the Pro14’s home markets of the UK, Ireland, South Africa and Italy. Dermot Rigley, commercial and marketing director of Pro14 Rugby, said the focus would now switch to international rights sales.
DAZN Italia staged its official launch event in Milan yesterday (Thursday) and confirmed its roster of sports events that will be added to Serie A, Serie B and the Pro14.
The multi-sport offering brings more than 1,500 hours of live content to DAZN in Italy every year. The service includes branded programming blocks from Fox Sports for North American ice hockey league the NHL and mixed martial arts promotion the UFC.
The first big football event streamed live on DAZN will be Saturday’s French Trophée des Champions clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco. The first Serie A fixture on DAZN will be the meeting between Lazio and Napoli on August 18.
DAZN’s multi-sport offering in detail:
Football:
Serie A, 114 live and exclusive matches, three seasons
Serie B, 462 matches, including 428 exclusive games, three seasons
LaLiga, all 380 matches, three seasons
Ligue 1, all 380 matches per season, three seasons
Ligue 2, all matches, three seasons
Coupe de la Ligue, three seasons
Trophée des Champions, three seasons
OPEL friendly tournament, August 5, 2018
Copa Libertadores
Copa Sudamericana
Recopa Sudamericana
Africa Cup of Nations
FA Cup
EFL Cup
Other sports:
MLB (Major League Baseball) including World Series
NHL (National Hockey League) including 2019 Stanley Cup
Champions Cup (rugby union)
Pro14
Scotland and Ireland rugby internationals
Wales Autumn rugby internationals
Matchroom Boxing
UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)
Showtime Boxing
Bellator MMA
WRC (World Rally Championship)
PDC darts