August 16 – DAZN Group have completed the acquisition of women’s football online platform Ata, which will see DAZN further consolidate its women’s football offering, expanding its comprehensive rights collection, which includes rights to the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) and both national and international rights to Germany’s Frauen Bundesliga.
Backed by US venture capitalists 777 Partners, Ata Football utilises its own over-the-top (OTT) streaming platform to broadcast live and on-demand women’s soccer matches from premier European leagues. The platform showcases matches from leagues like France’s Division 1 Féminine and Italy’s Serie A Femminile, spanning regions that include the US, the UK, and Ireland.
The moment of its acquisition by DAZN, occurring just a day prior to the England vs. Australia match that determines a spot in the Women’s World Cup final, highlights the escalating worldwide fascination with women’s football.
No value has been given for the acquisition, which was described as having been for a nominal fee.
DAZN Group CEO Shay Segev said: “DAZN and ata football share the same view when it comes to women’s football, the strength of game lies in its participants, fans and distinct appeal. By harnessing these characteristics, we believe that DAZN can build on the foundations our investment in the women’s game has delivered so far.
“The progress that has been made in creating visibility for competitions like the UWCL, LigaF, Frauen Bundesliga amongst others, has seen value created in the whole ecosystem. More viewers, higher attendances and better sponsorship deals.”
Ata football co-founders, Esmeralda Negron and Hannah Brown, will join DAZN “to establish a women’s sport business unit, we are confident that DAZN will keep setting the pace in this area of huge potential, as well as establishing even better and greater links with the communities that are driving the women’s game on to ever-increasing heights,” said Segev.
Ata football co-founders, Esmeralda Negron and Hannah Brown, said, “Three years ago we recognised there was significant opportunity for the growth in audience and engagement in the women’s professional game, and also the real near-term challenges to achieve that.
“Over a million young girls play grassroots football in the US alone and are largely unconnected to the professional women’s game. Over the last few years, we’ve witnessed the rise of women’s football in the storied clubs of Europe, significant investment, and development of leagues across all markets, exponential growth of national team football and advocacy across the landscape. Now is the time to build the product, partnerships, and experiences to fuel the women’s football ecosystem and become the global community for fans and players of the game.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1713967068labto1713967068ofdlr1713967068owedi1713967068sni@o1713967068fni1713967068