Archive image — © Tom Palmaers
Watching football in our country without paying: it is no longer possible for DAZN. The company behind the channel Eleven Sports won its first legal battle and further lawsuits will follow, writes De Tijd.
Three catering businesses have been convicted by the corporate judge in Antwerp for broadcasting DAZN sports channels without paying for them, De Tijd learned. DAZN is the most important rights holder of football and sports in our country under the brand name Eleven.
The conviction means that catering establishments must pay a fine of 1,000 euros for every time they broadcast again without a license. They also pay all legal costs and must pay compensation to DAZN. This is not the same for every café or bar, because it is linked, among other things, to the size of the catering business.
The license imposes higher rates as the surface area increases: 70 euros per month up to 30 square meters, 100 euros up to 100 square meters and 150 euros for even larger cases. In concrete terms, the convictions mean that the catering establishments involved will have to cough up thousands of euros.
The convictions are the end of a process lasting more than a year. DAZN first launched a formula with licenses for the catering industry and also conducted an awareness campaign at thousands of businesses. It then sent bailiffs to unruly operators. Finally, lawsuits started. Judgments should follow soon in ten cases at courts in Liège, Charleroi and Brussels, among others.
Ten to fifteen cafes, bars and hotels would purchase a license from DAZN every day. Inquiries show that it is impossible to determine how large the market still is for catering establishments that broadcast without paying.