Belgian sports fans have a reason to celebrate as the long-time Pro League broadcaster, Telenet, makes a comeback through a deal with DAZN. The agreement will allow Telenet customers to watch all Pro League matches live from the 2026-27 season onwards.
DAZN, an acclaimed sports streaming service, has successfully secured a local distribution partner for its coverage of Belgian soccer’s Pro League. This partnership comes after striking a deal with Telenet, one of Belgium's main broadcasters and telecommunications operators.
The agreement is set to run through the remainder of DAZN’s current rights period until the 2029-30 campaign. Starting next season, subscribers to Telenet’s Play Sports channels will gain access to the full DAZN Total package. This includes not only Belgium's second-tier Challenger Pro League and Women's Super League but also other top international competitions such as Spain’s LaLiga, Italian Serie A, France’s Ligue 1 and NBA basketball.
Overcoming contractual challenges
Despite initial attempts by DAZN to terminate its long-term domestic rights contract less than a year into the deal due to failure in securing at least two other distribution partners for its coverage as per original terms of agreement; it recently announced that it would cover the Pro League until at least end of 2026-27 season.
This announcement followed months of uncertainty over OTT platform's long-term contract with top-flight Pro league which came under scrutiny when negotiations between DAZN and several telecommunications operators including Telenet failed leading matches this season being available only via DAZN platform.
In response to this contractual impasse between DAZN and The Pro league resorting legal action was taken where Belgian Arbitration and Mediation Centre (CEPANI) ordered DAZN to continue covering the league until end of 2025-26 season. The streaming giant was also instructed to pay remaining money due for rights through end of 2026 and reopen negotiations over wider coverage with telecom firms.
Telenet’s coverage commences
Telenet's coverage will kick off this month, offering a selection of the remaining Pro League play-off matches at no extra cost to all Telenet TV customers. The telco will broadcast two matches from each round of the season-ending champions’ play-offs, starting with Saturday’s clash between Club Brugge and Sint-Truiden, followed by Gent vs Anderlecht match.
Dieter Nieuwdorp, chief commercial officer at Telenet group, said:
“Belgian football belongs in the living room. We are therefore incredibly happy and proud that, together with DAZN, we can make this possible again.
“We strive to offer our customers an excellent experience, so it is great news that from next season onwards, through Play Sports, they will once again be able to access their favourite Belgian club, complemented by the best of European top football from DAZN’s portfolio.”
Before this season, Telenet had been broadcasting live Belgian Pro League matches since 2011–2012 campaign either through direct rights agreement with league or distribution deal with other rightsholders such as DAZN or Eleven Sports.
DAZN has been showing the league in Belgium since its launch in the country in 2023 following its acquisition of Eleven Sports. This acquisition saw DAZN taking over pay-TV broadcaster’s portfolio sports rights including Pro League rights for period from 2020-21 to 2024-25 which was later extended by DAZN in December 2024 for another five seasons. This new partnership between Telenet and DAZN marks a significant milestone in Belgian sports broadcasting history, promising an exciting future for both sports fans and betting enthusiasts alike.
