"DAZN" Calls for Italy to Stop Television Piracy

The platform "DAZN," holder of the broadcasting rights for Italy's Serie A football matches, has urged Italy to expedite plans to stop the rising digital television content piracy across the country over the past five years. DAZN’s president in Italy, Stefano Azzi, stated that "live sports broadcasting piracy costs the sector approximately 290 million euros ($317 million) annually, according to a survey revealed by the Italian Federation for the Fight Against Audiovisual Piracy." The survey revealed that watching pirated live broadcasts of sporting events in Italy increased by 26 percent last year compared to the previous year. Azzi called on the Italian parliament to quickly approve a bill "that would allow authorities to block illegal platforms within 30 minutes of a complaint being filed." The platform is seeking broadcasting rights for the Serie A for the period between 2024 and 2029.