DAZN forced to keep 85% fee for 2026‑27, easing Belgian clubs' worries

A provisional ruling by the CEPANI arbitration tribunal requires streaming platform DAZN to continue paying 85 % of the contractual broadcast‑rights fee for the 2026‑27 season, easing concerns for Belgian Pro League clubs after DAZN had sought to cut payments to 60 %.

The dispute began at the end of last year when DAZN announced its intention to terminate the contract with the Pro League, arguing that the deal was no longer financially sustainable. The Pro League responded by taking the case to CEPANI, which had previously ordered DAZN to honour the full fee through the end of the prior season. That earlier decision forced DAZN to keep paying the complete amount until the season concluded.

The new provisional decision modifies the payment requirement for the upcoming 2026‑27 campaign, reducing the obligation to 85 % of the agreed sum rather than the full amount. While this grants DAZN a partial concession, the bulk of the financial commitment remains in place. The tribunal indicated that a final ruling is expected sometime next year, as the platform had originally aimed to lower the fee to 60 % of the contract value. Such a reduction would have cost the Pro League and its clubs tens of millions of euros in additional expenses. Avoiding that scenario preserves the clubs’ revenue streams for the coming season.

The provisional ruling is unrelated to a separate agreement DAZN reached earlier with telecom operators Telenet, Proximus and Orange. That deal means matches from the Jupiler Pro League and Challenger Pro League are no longer exclusive to the streaming service. Fans can therefore access league games through those operators in addition to DAZN.

The Pro League and DAZN will await the final judgment next year, which will determine the long‑term financial framework for Belgian football broadcasting.