Rome, January 12, 2026 — Italy’s antitrust authority has reduced the fine imposed on DAZN in its case over the 2021 distribution deal with TIM for Serie A broadcasting rights, while confirming that the agreement breached EU rules by restricting rival telecom operators’ ability to partner with DAZN.
In a decision adopted on December 22, 2025, the Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM) said the infringement lasted from January 27, 2021, to August 3, 2022, longer than originally determined, after Italian courts partially annulled the 2023 decision on duration grounds.
In May 2024, the Regional Administrative Court of Lazio (TAR Lazio) partially annulled AGCM’s decision on the basis that the authority had incorrectly identified the end date of the infringement. The Council of State later upheld that point in June 2025, finding the infringement continued until the exclusivity restrictions were removed through a new agreement signed on August 3, 2022.
Exclusivity Clauses and Market Restrictions
AGCM reaffirmed its finding that certain clauses in the TIM-DAZN “Deal Memo Distribution” unlawfully restricted competition under Article 101 TFEU, including provisions granting TIM exclusivity to bundle or sell DAZN’s service and limiting DAZN’s ability to partner with other operators.
The authority said the conduct ended only when TIM and DAZN signed a new distribution agreement on August 3, 2022, that removed the exclusivity provisions.
Fine Reduced for DAZN
AGCM reduced DAZN’s fine to EUR 3,673,716.63 (approximately $4,278,180), after reassessing the calculation base following guidance from the Council of State. The authority said it could not clearly estimate whether TIM’s financial contribution under the deal affected DAZN’s direct sales, and therefore excluded those direct sales from the fine calculation.
AGCM left TIM’s fine unchanged at EUR 760,776.82.
DAZN Media Not Liable
The authority also confirmed that DAZN Media Services was not responsible for the infringement and is not a recipient of the revised decision.
Source: https://www.agcm.it/dotcmsdoc/bollettini/2026/2-26.pdf
