![\"DAZN](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/99d0fe98f205f87ac8acde9b086a272458b149a7.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nDAZN had been unable to find distribution channels for its Belgian coverage.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo company should be forced to operate at a loss,\u201d DAZN Belgium managing director Massimo D\u2019Amario said in a statement. \u201cThat\u2019s simply not a sustainable business.\u201d<\/p>\n
The streaming company had previously tried to renegotiate the French contract, which was worth \u20ac400 million a year for six years, after disappointing subscription numbers and issues with piracy.<\/p>\n
A Foxtel Group spokesperson did not address specific questions from this masthead on whether the company would try to renegotiate the AFL deal, and referred questions about DAZN to the UK company.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe AFL has been a valued broadcast partner of Foxtel Group for more than 25 years,\u201d the spokesperson said. \u201cThe 2025 season marked the beginning of a new era in our partnership and delivered our highest-ever season viewership.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere have been no discussions on changes to our contract with the AFL, and we look forward to delivering live, 4K coverage of every game, of every round, for many years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2025 season was the first in the new AFL media deal. <\/p>\n
The NRL\u2019s $1.7 billion agreement with Foxtel and Nine, owner of this masthead, expires in 2027.<\/p>\n
DAZN is majority owned by Ukraine-born, American-educated billionaire Sir Leonard (Len) Blavatnik.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
DAZN is backed by British-Ukrainian billionaire Sir Leonard Blavatnik.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Last month, Blavatnik injected $891 million into DAZN, after the company posted a substantial financial loss. His company, Access Industries, has invested more than $11 billion into DAZN in the past decade.<\/p>\n
Under the new AFL deal, Foxtel and Kayo have exclusive rights to Saturday football in Victoria and use their own commentators for all matches rather than taking the Seven call for games that are on both networks. However, there was a backlash among fans who objected to Saturdays going behind a paywall.<\/a><\/p>\n Carlton and Essendon were banished from free-to-air TV in round 24.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n There was also frustration about fixturing, particularly after the AFL handed Carlton and Essendon prime-time matches on Thursday and Friday nights despite both teams falling from finals contention.<\/p>\n Seven\u2019s football ratings dwindled towards the end of the home-and-away season \u2013 the free-to-air broadcaster elected not to show the round 24 Carlton-Essendon Thursday night dead rubber<\/a> \u2013 but received a significant boost at the start of the finals.<\/p>\n Loading<\/p>\n![\"Carlton](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3b02bd84d75003e4660dcb148bcba921193863cf.jpeg\")
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