MILAN (Reuters) – DAZN has rejected a 1.5 billion euro ($1.83 billion) bid from Italy’s top TV player SKY to host the sport streaming app’s content, including Serie A matches, on SKY’s platforms in Italy for the next three years, two sources close to the matter said on Thursday.
DAZN secured the right to screen all Serie A matches in Italy over the next three seasons for 2.52 billion euros, a deal which includes a distribution agreement with Italy’ biggest phone group, Telecom Italia.
SKY and DAZN have a content-sharing agreement in place in Italy which expires at the end of this month.
DAZN struck a content-sharing deal last month with Sky Deutschland, Comcast’s German pay TV arm. The partnership would enable viewers to watch DAZN’s coverage of Bundesliga and Champions League soccer via its Sky Q platform while paying a single monthly bill.
Both SKY and DAZN declined to comment.
Bloomberg first reported DAZN had rejected SKY’s offer late on Wednesday.
($1 = 0.8216 euros)
(Reporting by Elvira Pollina, addtiional reporting by Douglas Busvine, editing by Maria Pia Quaglia)
