DAZN, the London-headquartered sports streaming company supported by British-American investor Len Blavatnik, has been in confidential discussions with pay-TV operator DirecTV Latin America about a range of strategic options, three people familiar with the matter said.
Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said talks between the two groups have taken place in recent months and have included consideration of several paths - from a full acquisition of DirecTV Latin America to the purchase of that business's digital assets. One person said DAZN has been weighing the possibility of buying DirecTV Latin America’s digital operations. A second source cautioned that, despite the breadth of options discussed, current negotiations are focused on forming a commercial partnership in the region.
The discussions trace back to last year, the people added, and any move toward a complete takeover is generally viewed as unlikely to occur before this year’s FIFA World Cup. One source said the post-World Cup period would make the business easier to value, implying that acquisition timing could hinge on the tournament's impact on rights and viewership metrics.
A successful transaction would mark a notable expansion for DAZN in Latin America as the company pushes to grow its global footprint. DAZN has been active in expanding its presence internationally - it completed a purchase of Australia’s pay-TV operator Foxtel in 2024 for $2.1 billion.
DirecTV Latin America has been controlled by Argentina-based investor Grupo Werthein since its acquisition from AT&T in 2021. The operator provides pay-TV services across South America and the Caribbean and reaches an estimated 40 million viewers, according to information on FIFA and Grupo Werthein websites. Those same sources indicate DirecTV Latin America holds rights to broadcast this year’s FIFA World Cup in several countries, including Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay.
Representatives for DAZN declined to comment. DirecTV Latin America and Grupo Werthein said they had no information on the matter. A valuation for the privately held company could not be established.
Broadcasting rights and subscriber revenue form the backbone of DAZN’s business model. The group secured and manages a range of sport content - from boxing, American football and baseball to top European soccer competitions. Its football partnerships include Serie A in Italy, Spain’s LaLiga, Germany’s Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1. The platform also sub-licensed the rights to broadcast all matches of FIFA’s inaugural Club World Cup in 2025 to DirecTV Latin America, while DAZN itself will stream national team World Cup matches in Japan, Italy and Spain.
Maintaining the portfolio of live sports rights and growing subscriptions requires ongoing capital outlay. Public corporate filings show repeated injections of capital from Blavatnik into DAZN. The company’s latest published results recorded a loss of $936 million in 2024, an improvement from a $1.4 billion loss a year earlier.
If negotiations advance, observers say the approach taken - whether a commercial partnership, purchase of digital assets, or a full acquisition - could have distinct implications for regional distribution, subscriber economics and the competitive landscape for broadcast rights in Latin America. For now, sources say talks are concentrated on commercial collaboration rather than an immediate change of ownership.