TV TUSSLE
Major broadcasting change to sport’s coverage with five-year DAZN deal ‘on brink of collapse’
A rival broadcaster is set to take advantage of an ongoing legal battle
DAZN'S deal is on the brink of collapsing for the UK TV rights for this year's Indian Premier League.
After a legal battle between Indian media company Viacom18 and the video streaming service Sky Sports are set to snap up the TV rights.
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DAZN sealed a five-year deal last year to show the T20 cricket league in the UK, USA, Middle and North Africa.
But the sports broadcasting service has held talks with the Indian rights holders to terminate the contract.
Sky as a result has offered to stream this year's IPL as they aim to target rights for more franchise tournaments over international cricket in the winter.
If the deal is finalised Sky will screen the IPL from March to May meaning they will have the rights for the three leading T20 franchise competitions.
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This follows as the broadcasting company are currently streaming the Big Bash in Australia and South Africa’s SA20.
Since 2005 Sky has covered England's home matches but they have turned down the chance to bid on Thursday for the five-Test series in India.
TNT will now broadcast the event with Sky also handing them the right to show international cricket in Australia, New Zealand and West Indies, with South Africa and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, this was DAZN's chance to break through onto the cricket scene but it has miserably failed as they plan to withdraw their rights.
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In 2023 DAZN was sub-licensed to 74 IPL matches rising to 84 in 2025 and 2026, and 94 in 2027.
This has not been DAZN's only deal in the sport as they streamed last year's Caribbean Premier League in Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.
Both Sky and DAZN have declined to comment.
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