Sports streaming platform DAZN has agreed to buy News Corp's Australian cable TV unit Foxtel for A$3.4 billion ($2 billion), including debt.
Here are some details about the company and its owner:
WHAT IS DAZN?
The London-based platform has over 300 million viewers across 200 markets. It streams several thousand sporting events, with 86,000 live events broadcast last year, according to its website.
DAZN (pronounced “Da Zone”) was originally part of Perform Group, created in 2007 from the merger of Premium TV Limited and Inform Group. In 2018, Perform Group changed its name to DAZN Group, splitting into two entities: DAZN, a sports streaming service, and Perform Content, focused on sports data.
MAIN AGREEMENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS
Boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA): DAZN has exclusive rights to numerous high-profile boxing and MMA events, partnering with promotions such as Matchroom, Golden Boy Promotions and Misfits Boxing. Starting in April 2025, DAZN will be the exclusive global broadcast partner for Queensberry Promotions, expanding its boxing content.
European Football Leagues: DAZN holds exclusive rights to broadcast major European football leagues, including Italy's Serie A, Spain's LaLiga, Germany's Bundesliga and France's Ligue.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025: DAZN will be the exclusive global broadcaster for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, broadcasting all 63 matches live and free of charge worldwide.
Motorsports: DAZN has secured exclusive rights to broadcast Formula 1 in Spain until 2026, and also broadcasts MotoGP and Supercross.
WHO IS THE OWNER OF DAZN?
DAZN is owned by Access Industries, a New York-based private holding company founded by Ukrainian-born billionaire Len Blavatnik in 1986.
Access Industries' portfolio has an investment value of $35 billion and spans media, entertainment and real estate.
Its major investments in the media and entertainment sector include Warner Music Group, DAZN and Deezer, one of the world's largest independent music streaming services.
WHO IS LEN BLAVATNIK?
Len Blavatnik is a British-American businessman and philanthropist and ranks among the top 40 billionaires in the world, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index.
Born June 14, 1957 in Odesa, Ukraine, he emigrated to the United States in 1978. He graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Business School.
In 2013 he was made a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor for his support of education and in 2017 he was made a Chevalier by Queen Elizabeth II for his service to philanthropy.
Source: DAZN website, Access Industry website
