Club World Cup to be Broadcast Live on Channel 5 in UK after Dazn Deal
The Club World Cup, one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the summer, will be televised live on Channel 5 in the UK after the free-to-air broadcaster reached a sublicensing agreement with global rights holder, Dazn. According to a report by The Guardian, Channel 5 will broadcast 23 of the 63 matches, including 15 group games, four last-16 ties, two quarter-finals, one semi-final, and the final.
The deal, which was finalised this week, is a cross-promotional agreement that will also see Dazn make every match in the new expanded tournament available free-to-air globally via its app. The remaining 40 games will be shown exclusively by Dazn. This move is significant for Channel 5, which has held live rights to the Europa League and numerous highlights packages, but will be broadcasting its highest-profile sports event to date.
As reported by The Guardian, Dazn paid $1bn (£787m) for global Club World Cup rights in February, with the deal reportedly funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The tournament, which features top clubs including Chelsea and Manchester City, will see the winners receive up to $125.8m depending on their results, with Chelsea and City set to bank $38.19m for qualifying.
The partnership between Dazn and Channel 5 is an effort to increase viewing figures for Fifa and its commercial partners. Although Dazn has 300 million monthly users globally, it remains a challenger company in certain markets, including the UK. Warner Bros has a sublicensing deal in the United States, and The Guardian notes that the BBC and ITV opted not to bid for the rights due to their focus on England’s defence of the Women’s European Championship.
Lee Sears, Paramount’s president of international ad sales, told The Guardian that Channel 5 is “delighted to be able to have agreed this fantastic partnership with Dazn to expand free-to-air coverage of the Fifa Club World Cup, live on 5.” He added that the ambition is to offer viewers and advertisers “even more [sport] in the months to come.”
The Club World Cup, which runs from 14 June to 13 July, features top clubs including Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami. Channel 5 will take Dazn’s coverage and promote Dazn’s brand, rather than using its own staff. This deal marks a significant move for Channel 5, which is owned by the American film giant Paramount, as it seeks to expand its sports coverage.
In related news, Channel 5 is also in talks with the England and Wales Cricket Board about buying two men’s and two women’s England T20 matches this summer. With this deal, Channel 5 is set to become a major player in sports broadcasting in the UK, and fans can look forward to a summer of exciting sports coverage. As The Guardian reports, the Club World Cup is set to be one of the sporting events of the summer, with 32 of the world’s biggest clubs involved.
