Is Belgian football (almost) nowhere to be seen anymore? Poker game with high bet holds our competition in the grip
Where can we look at the Jupiler Pro League later? For the time being the only correct answer is Dazn, but not more via Telenet and Proximus. Even images in journals are suddenly no longer certainty. Will Belgian football really become a lot less visible, as many fear? Background with a poker game with high bet.
One season is not the other.
Exactly one month before the start of the new volume in the Jupiler Pro League, everything points out that there will be a landslide. Because in what way can fans soon follow their favorite team?
That is the case: in December the Pro League found an agreement with Dazn on the (live) rights of Belgian football.
That was also the case during the previous cycle. Only after (difficult) negotiations, Dazn also found an agreement with Telenet and Proximus on a sublicense. In this way, subscribers to both telecom companies could simply watch the matches of the Jupiler Pro League through their trusted decoder or TV app.
Only a similar agreement with Telenet and Proximus is currently far away.
Poker game with other cards
Table of Contents
People involved in the file can be heard that the conversations between Dazn and the telecom operators are in a comatose state a few weeks before the start of the competition.
Telenet even sent an email to his subscribers on Monday that Dazn’s sports offer – and therefore also the Jupiler Pro League – will soon disappear from the offer.
At the same time, Proximus announced on Tuesday that this season, thanks to a deal with Telenet, it will offer English and German football. A striking expansion of the cooperation between the two telecom giants, see it as a signal towards Dazn.
Telenet and Proximus take into account that this can make a pack of subscribers flow away, but on the other hand also see it as a substantial cost saving. Certainly because the asking price of rights holder Dazn is currently higher than 5 years ago.
“Their proposal is completely unrealistic,” says someone who was involved in the negotiations.
A poker game with high bet.
Dazn’s proposal is completely unrealistic.
Person concerned in negotiations
And in it Dazn has other cards in his hands than five years ago.
Then the company, which calls itself the Netflix of the sport, absolutely needed the money of Telenet and Proximus to keep the purchase of rights livable.
But now Dazn is focusing more and more intensively on the streaming service that it offers via its own website and app. For example, the World Cup for clubs can now be viewed (free).
A subscription from 19.99 euros per month is available for Belgian football. Suppose Dazn keeps the rights exclusively in his hands, it can be expected that the number of paying subscribers will increase exponentially.
But will the growth be so great that the cost price of the rights (84.2 million euros per year) can be recovered?
That is just the question …
The emails from Proximus and Telenet to their customers
Loss of visibility
And that is only one straight file that is currently unsolved on the table.
Negotiations with Dazn are also very difficult for other parts of the football package. Interested parties for a magazine such as Extra Time did not present themselves, a successor for a program with summaries such as Sports Late Night nor.
Even for the digital clips with highlights and the use of images in the TV journals – there is interest in that – there is still no deal in sight.
Will Belgian football really only be seen at Dazn? At all an ideal scenario, according to connoisseurs.
Because what about fans who do not have the skills or resources to be able to follow the matches of their favorite club (on a big screen)? And sponsors also look at the file with wide eyes, because they may be in danger of losing a large part of their visibility.
No deal? Then the risk of a scenario with only losers is too great.
An insider
Wait and see if all parties involved continue to play as hard as the past months.
All the insiders that we got on the line sound hopeful that there will soon be a solution: “Because otherwise the risk of a scenario with only losers is too great,” it sounds.
Many also point to five years ago.
Then it also seemed that the Jupiler Pro League could not be followed live on television due to stiff negotiations. Proximus still grabbed and Telenet followed after a few match days.
Who will soon throw his cards on the table first?
Belgian Football Rights: A Breakdown
The current situation regarding the broadcasting rights for the Jupiler Pro League is complex. Here’s a simplified look at the key players and issues:
| Aspect | Details | Implications |
| ——————- | ——————————————————————————————————————————— | ——————————————————————————————————————— |
| Rights Holder | DAZN – Secured the live broadcasting rights for the Jupiler Pro League. | Exclusive rights may limit accessibility for fans. |
| Negotiations | DAZN is currently negotiating sublicense agreements with Telenet and Proximus. | Agreement is uncertain; could lead to restricted viewing options. |
| Accessibility | Matches were previously available through Telenet and Proximus decoders, offering wide accessibility. | No current agreement between DAZN,Telenet,and Proximus. Fans would only be able to stream via DAZN. |
| DAZN’s Strategy | Shifting focus to direct streaming via its website and app; aiming to grow its subscriber base. | Possible higher subscription costs for fans, especially if rights are exclusive. |
| Cost of rights | ~€84.2 million per year – a significant amount that DAZN needs to recoup. | DAZN’s investment requires a large number of subscribers for profitability. |
| Other Rights | Negotiations are also challenging for other football-related content (e.g., Extra Time magazine, highlights). | Potential reduction in overall visibility of Belgian football across various media platforms. |
| Fan Impact | Fans without the means for streaming or who prefer traditional TV may find it harder to watch their favorite teams. | Reduced access could affect fan engagement and the overall popularity of the league. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Jupiler Pro League broadcasting rights situation:
Q: What is the current status of the Jupiler Pro League broadcasting rights?
A: DAZN holds the live broadcasting rights. Negotiations with Telenet and Proximus for a sublicense are ongoing but have not yet been finalized.If these negotiations fail this could limit accessibility for fans.
Q: Where can I watch Jupiler Pro League Matches?
A: Currently, the primary option is DAZN. Without an agreement between DAZN and other providers, such as Telenet and Proximus, this may be the only way to watch the matches.
Q: Why are negotiations between DAZN, Telenet, and Proximus proving difficult?
A: The specifics of the negotiations are not public. However, often these are negotiations over financial terms, the cost of acquiring the rights, and the commercial agreement which can be very complex.
Q: How will this impact fans?
A: If an agreement is not reached, fans who are subscribers of Telenet or Proximus, may have to subscribe to DAZN directly to watch live matches of the Jupiler Pro League.This could mean higher subscription costs and/or technical limitations.
Q: What has been the response from the football stakeholders thus far?
A: The people involved are hopeful they will come to an agreement, sence otherwise the risk of having only losers is too great, this also applies to the sponsors who may lose their visibility.
Q: What is the future of the broadcasting of Belgian football?
A: Only time will tell, depending on the outcome of all negotiations. Though,there is uncertainty with the current direction the league may move.
Q: Have similar situations happened before?
A: Yes. Similar challenging negotiations occurred five years ago, with a last-minute agreement eventually reached before the season began.
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