By Jonathan Easton
DAZN has reported a 2020 loss of US$1.3 billion.
According to recently filed accounts, the 2020 loss means that DAZN has posted combined losses of US$2.74 billion between 2019-2020. Prior to that in 2018, DAZN reported a loss of £485.5 million.
The sports streamer’s broadcast rights costs in 2020 fell from US$1.71 billion in 2019 to US$1.2 billion in 2020 due to rebates and terminations enacted following the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on live sports.
DAZN’s 2020 revenues stood at US$871.8 million, an increase from US$819.1 million in 2019. Operating costs fell by 27 per cent year-over-year from US$2.75 billion to US$2.01 billion.
It is worth noting that these figures are from 2020 during the peak of the pandemic. DAZN is not a publicly listed company, so its accounts are delayed and lodged with the UK’s Companies House.
Last week, DAZN’s billionaire backer Len Blavatnik injected US$4.3 billion into the broadcaster via his company Access Industries, of which former Disney+ boss Kevin Mayer is chair. These funds will turn loans taken out in 2020 into permanent capital, while helping DAZN to explore new business ventures including recreational betting, gaming and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
