DAZN and Sky Italia have extended their broadcasting agreement for the CEV Champions League in Italy. This renewal will last for three additional seasons, covering the 2026-27, 2027-28, and 2028-29 seasons. The deal encompasses both men’s and women’s competitions.
Overview of the Broadcasting Rights
The renewed agreement was facilitated by Infront, a key sports marketing agency and the CEV’s exclusive media rights distributor. DAZN and Sky Italia have been sharing the broadcasting rights since the 2024-25 season under a previous two-year contract.
- Sky Italia broadcasts three matches per round from both competitions, totaling over 50 fixtures.
- DAZN showcases all matches involving Italian teams and selected other events.
Previous and Upcoming Events
In prior years, the CEV Champions League was covered by Discovery+ and Eurosport during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. Apart from the Champions League, DAZN has also secured the rights to the upcoming Men’s and Women’s European Championships in 2026 and 2028.
- The 2026 Men’s European Championship will be hosted by Italy, Bulgaria, Finland, and Romania from September 9 to 26.
- This year’s Women’s Championship will occur in Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Turkey from August 21 to September 6.
DAZN’s Comprehensive Volleyball Coverage
The broadcasting package for DAZN includes:
- Coverage of Italian men’s and women’s national team matches.
- Premier matches from the Champions League and European Championships.
- Key games from the CEV Cup and Challenge Cup.
- Beach volleyball events including the European Championships and the Beach Volleyball Nations Cup.
Commitment to Volleyball in Italy
Stefano Azzi, CEO of DAZN Italy, emphasized the importance of volleyball to DAZN’s programming. He stated that the service has been invested in European volleyball since 2018, solidifying its role as a leading broadcaster for fans in Italy and beyond.
Volleyball enjoys considerable popularity in Italy, partially due to the women’s national team’s recent achievements, including a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The domestic league, Serie A, along with other international competitions further enrich DAZN’s volleyball portfolio.
Value of the Media Rights Deal
The partnership between Infront and CEV, established in late 2019, is reported to be worth approximately $117 million. This agreement will continue until the end of the 2031-32 season, ensuring a solid future for volleyball coverage in Italy.
