DAZN, a streaming sports platform controlled by tycoon Len Blavatnik, is negotiating the purchase of its smaller rival Eleven Sports, according to close sources consulted by the Financial Times newspaper. The negotiations reflect DAZN’s determination to acquire content and enter new markets at a time of great rivalry between platforms and groups such as Apple, Amazon or Disney for the rights to sports competitions to retain or attract customers.
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Eleven Sports was founded in 2015 by Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani, owner of the Leeds United football club. The platform includes the broadcast of sports competitions such as the Champions League and the next three seasons of the English Premier League in Portugal or Formula 1 in Poland. In addition, Eleven Sports owns the documentary production company Neo Studios, from the digital marketing company Team Whistle. Blavatnik’s company, which had a turnover of more than 300 million dollars in the last fiscal year, owns its own streaming technology after acquiring MyCujoo in 2020.
The negotiations between DAZN and Eleven Sports are advanced, although there are no guarantees that the agreement will be sealed. A few months ago, Discovery snatched DAZN’s purchase of BT Sport, which owns the UK rights to the Premier League and the Champions League. DAZN owns the domestic rights to the Spanish football LaLiga, the German Bundesliga and the Italian Serie A.
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