DAZN enters the streaming arena – A three-way tussle for Australian football?

Worldwide sports streaming service DAZN recently announced it will expand its international footprint in 2020, distributing its service to more than 200 new countries and territories including Australia.

The first event on DAZN that will be shown to a global audience will be Canelo Alvarez’s soon-to-be-announced fight on May 2.

DAZN EVP Joseph Markowski stated: “Establishing DAZN as the global home of fight sports is just the first step and we couldn’t think of a better attraction for our inaugural event than Canelo’s traditional Cinco de Mayo Weekend fight.”

While the company’s initial focus is on boxing in their global agenda, in the Australian market the Sydney Morning Herald claims DAZN has shown signs of interest in acquiring the A-League rights.

DAZN has a history of pursuing domestic football competition rights in countries where they have implemented their streaming service.

In Japan, DAZN signed a deal with the J.League worth almost $3 billion over a ten-year-period in 2016. The deal, which began in 2017, gave DAZN broadcast rights to show all games in the top three divisions of Japanese football.

The streaming service launched in Italy in August 2018, with exclusive rights acquired to show three Serie A matches per week.

So, if the price is right, why wouldn’t Australian football be a good choice for DAZN’s first major investment in the Australian market?

The upcoming rugby union rights which are set to be settled soon, may also be on the company’s radar.

There is an argument however, that those who watch rugby union may not be an appealing demographic for a streaming service, when compared to those who watch Australian football.

In a column for Fox Sports last week, Simon Hill revealed football is the most digitally engaged sport in the country.

Data put together by research company ‘Futures’ highlighted that almost three out of four people who follow the A-League’s Facebook page are under 35.

While other codes in Australia may have bigger numbers overall, the younger demographic of Australian football fans means more content is consumed online.

This is an attractive proposition for a streaming service such as DAZN, who will be interested in engaging with an already tech savvy audience.

It doesn’t seem like they will be the only ones interested in Australian football rights, with Optus Sport continuing to build their portfolio this past week.

On Tuesday, Optus Sport announced they have secured the rights to broadcast the Copa America this year to Australian viewers.

The tournament rights will include at least five Socceroos games, as Australia enters the South American competition for the first time ever.

Alongside this news, an interesting 14-part series is set to be released in the build-up to UEFA Euro 2020, another tournament they will be broadcasting on their platform.

The series looks to highlight the strong European influence on Australia’s footballing landscape, focusing on historic clubs such as South Melbourne FC, Sydney United and Melbourne Knights.

A two-minute promo for the series shown on Optus Sport’s social channels, has been well received by the online football community.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the telco was involved with further rights negotiations in the future, once the current A-League deal has expired and the National Second Division is up and running.

Football Victoria recently revealed it is in discussions with Optus Sport to broadcast weekly shows on its service.

The telco seems to be on its way to becoming the new home of football in Australia, with Foxtel looking like it is focusing on Cricket, AFL and NRL.

A-League TV ratings are continuing to drop on Foxtel, but the great unknown is its streaming subsidiary Kayo Sports who are not revealing their numbers.

It would make sense that at least part of the A-League’s TV ratings decline is due to those younger football fans migrating to the sport’s streaming service.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the Round 17 match between Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar had a reach of 46,000 for the Fox Sports broadcast and 109,000 when it came to streaming.

While the numbers are not necessarily impressive for the Fox broadcast, the streaming figures are more than double and would include Kayo Sports and the My Football Live service.

The streaming numbers are encouraging for the A-League clubs and also Foxtel, who may see the A-League as an important part of its digital offering on Kayo.

Time will tell whether that is the case, with Foxtel currently holding those rights until 2023.

But what’s evident is that there is appetite for Australian football in the online space, despite the current doom and gloom around linear TV ratings.

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Football Victoria Welcomes AquaMe as Hydration Tech Partner

Football Victoria (FV) is excited to announce its partnership with AquaMe, with cutting-edge hydration technology for the next generation of upcoming footballers.

AQUAME is a cutting-edge smart water bottle system designed to meet the demands of today’s athletes. By combining advanced sensor technology with a sleek, user-friendly design, AQUAME supports personalised hydration management tailored to individual needs.

FV’s Executive Manager of Commercial, Chris Speldewinde, welcomed the partnership with open arms.

‘We’re thrilled to be aligning with AQUAME, whose focus on innovation and athlete well-being aligns perfectly with our academy’s mission to prepare players for the highest level,” he said via press release.

As part of the onboarding process, each FV Academy player has received their own AQUAME 2.0 Smart Water Bottle, along with access to the AQUAME PRO App.

This innovative system empowers players to track and maintain their hydration—from pre-training preparation to post-match recovery—using the same elite tools trusted by professional clubs such as Valencia CF, Deportivo Alavés, and the Mexico National Team.

By analysing both real-time and historical hydration data, AQUAME helps address the risks of both over- and under-hydration, ensuring each athlete maintains optimal hydration levels.

This data-driven approach provides deeper insights into the causes of dehydration, enabling teams to take proactive steps and prevent issues before they occur.

The integration of AQUAME into the FV Academy program marks a proactive step in equipping young athletes for the demands of high-performance sport, while promoting lifelong healthy hydration habits.

AQUAME Executive Steve Xie also shared his enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting the shared commitment to athlete wellbeing and innovation.

“Partnering with Football Victoria allows us to support the next wave of football talent with technology proven to enhance performance and recovery,” he said via press release.

To mark the launch of this exciting collaboration, AQUAME is also offering all Football Victoria families an exclusive 10% discount on the AQUAME 2.0 Smart Water Bottle and App.

Use code FOOTBALLVIC at checkout via the link below to access a special offer and experience the latest innovative technology in hydration.

AquaMe x FV Special Offer

Football NSW have announced new partnership with tech giant

Veo

Football NSW has confirmed a three-year partnership with the world’s leading AI-powered sports camera company VEO, aiming to transform how football is viewed and shared across the state.

Football NSW has teamed up with Veo in a new partnership that will enhance its high-performance and talent development programs across the state.

Programs such as the State Teams, Talent Support Program (TSP), and Future Sapphires will now have access to Veo’s cutting-edge technology and tools, supporting player development through better performance analysis and insights.

As part of the deal, these programs will be equipped with the latest Veo Cam 3 5G cameras, along with access to a suite of Veo software, including Veo Analytics, Veo Live for live streaming, Veo Editor for video breakdown, and Player Spotlight to highlight individual performances.

The partnership also introduces the “Veo League Exchange” across competitions like the NPL NSW, Football NSW Leagues, Youth Leagues, and Futsal Premier Leagues.

This platform allows clubs to upload, share, and study match footage, giving coaches and players valuable tools to learn, improve, and raise the overall standard of competition.

Football NSW CEO John Tsatsimas expressed his delight and excitement with the newly formed partnership with Veo.

“Veo are an excellent resource for the game, and I am delighted to see this partnership help and assist our Football NSW clubs and the wider football and futsal community,” he said via press release.

“With the game constantly evolving, Veo provides a unique opportunity for clubs to increase the analytical side with the aim to further improve training and match day tactics.”

ANZ Market Manager at Veo Technologies Tenzing Tsewang was also looking forward to partnering with Football NSW.

“This partnership with Football NSW is a milestone in our mission to support the future of football in Australia,” he said via press release.

“We’re already working with an incredible lineup of clubs across NSW, and this collaboration allows us to expand that impact — giving more coaches, players, and families access to the tools they need to develop, improve, and tell their stories.”

As a part of the partnership, Football NSW and Veo will release a series of initiatives that include exclusive access to Veo products, hands-on workshops, special pricing for clubs, and tailored support for technical and performance staff.

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