February 18 – The BBC has agreed to sub-license eight Serie A matches across the remainder of the 2025–26 season from DAZN.
The games will air live on BBC Alba, the corporation’s Scots Gaelic-language channel, and on the BBC’s own streaming plaform, BBC iPlayer, with DAZN retaining the English-language coverage.
As the BBC embarks on cost-cutting measures, rather than chasing full-season rights in an inflated market, it is adding live elite football at a fraction of the cost, tailored to a clearly defined audience. With a record seven Scottish players currently in Serie A, including Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay at the current champions Napoli, BBC Alba has secured content that fits its audience’s demand.
DAZN, meanwhile, benefits from reach rather than revenue.
The streamer holds the UK rights to all 10 Serie A matches per round, eight exclusively, but distribution is still king. By placing selected games on free-to-air BBC platforms, DAZN effectively markets Serie A and its own coverage to viewers who may not yet be subscribers.
Gaelic-language commentary also brings top-level European football into a new cultural space, while iPlayer accessibility lowers the barrier to entry.
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