Italy: "DAZN's technical problems are rapidly being resolved" (L. Gubitosi, TIM)

"A distinction must be made between the technical and commercial elements. On the first point, it should be clarified that the network is holding up very well, while there are other technological aspects that require an inevitable period of adjustment, given the epochal transformation we are experiencing similar to the transition from analogue to digital TV. However, the problems are rapidly being resolved," said Luigi Gubitosi, CEO of Telecom Italia, to the Italian daily newspaper Il Messaggero on 17/10/2021, regarding the technical problems encountered by the OTT platform DAZN when broadcasting Serie A TIM matches in Italy since the start of the 2021-22 season.

DAZN has signed a partnership with Telecom Italia (for its TIM brand) for the acquisition of the Serie A TIM broadcasting rights in Italy for €840m per season over the 2021-2024 cycle. Telecom Italia will provide 40% of DAZN's expected payments (i.e. €336m) in order for TIM to be "the reference telephone and pay-TV operator for the DAZN content offering in Italy as well as for the technological partnership."

"Through DAZN…