Belgian telecom firm, Proximus, has followed in the footsteps of its rival Telenet by returning as a broadcaster of domestic soccer's top-flight Pro League. This return is facilitated through a distribution deal with sports streaming service DAZN.
Starting from the 2026-27 season, Proximus will carry the DAZN channels and app, offering live coverage of all matches in the Pro League. This means that customers with either a 'Pickx Sports' or 'All-in' subscription package will have access to DAZN.
In an added bonus for fans, two matches per matchday from the currently ongoing season-ending champions play-offs will be available to all Pickx customers at no additional cost. The new season of the Pro League will be available from August 7th and broadcast via four linear channels on Proximus: two dedicated to Belgian soccer and two featuring international competitions. These broadcasts will be available in both Dutch and French languages.
Accessing additional content
Content not available on these linear channels can still be accessed by Pickx Sports customers via the integrated DAZN app within their sports package over the course of this upcoming season.
However, this return comes with a slight catch - subscription fees are set to increase from next season onwards. Despite this increase, current prices for both packages (€14.99 per month for Pickx Sports option and €38.99 per month for All-in) will remain unchanged until then. Pro League content won't just be limited to these packages though; it'll also be accessible via Scarlet - another low-cost telecom brand owned by Proximus itself.
Jim Casteele, chief consumer market and AI officer at Proximus expressed his delight at being able to offer the decisive Pro League matches to all their customers. He emphasized the importance of broadcasting via linear television channels, acknowledging that not everyone is familiar with the latest digital streaming technologies.
Journey so far
This development follows months of uncertainty over DAZN's long-term contract with Pro League. Last November, DAZN’s five-year contract came to an abrupt end due to its failure in securing at least two other distribution partners for its coverage.
However, after a legal ruling from the Belgian Arbitration and Mediation Centre (CEPANI), DAZN was ordered to continue covering the league until 2026-27 season and pay remaining rights fees. The ruling also stated that DAZN must reopen negotiations over wider coverage with telecom firms - leading us to this new deal between Proximus and DAZN.
Proximus has described these negotiations as “intensive” but maintained a constructive approach throughout. Their goal was clear: reach a sustainable agreement ensuring Belgian football remains widely accessible for all sports fans, including those less familiar with new technologies. With this new deal in place, it seems like they've achieved just that - bringing back beloved soccer action right into homes across Belgium.
