Sports media company DAZN has launched a free, ad-supported streaming (FAST) women’s sports channel in Germany and Austria.

Confirmed:

• DAZN Rise will offer users a combination of live broadcasts and highlights
• 24-hour network will house DAZN’s live women’s soccer coverage, including the Uefa Women’s Champions League, Germany’s top-flight Frauen Bundesliga, the Primera Division from Spain, and France’s Division 1 Feminine
• FAST channel will also carry include handball, basketball, golf, field hockey and boxing content

Context:

The launch of DAZN Rise in Germany comes after sports media company rolled out a €9.99 (US$10.53) per month dedicated women’s soccer subscription package in Spain. The new FAST channel is DAZN’s latest to go live in Germany after it debuted the concept on the Waipu.tv IPTV platform last year.

Comment:

“We all rise with more eyes – this is the motto of our mission to put women’s sport in the spotlight and raise it to the level of men’s sport by increasing its visibility and appeal to a wider audience,” said Alice Mascia, chief executive of DAZN in the DACH region.

“[DAZN Rise] gives women’s sports and athletes the visibility they deserve, offers fans, especially younger ones, a wider range of role models and, last but not least, fulfils DAZN’s mission to grow the sports business by developing new standards.”

Coming next:

DAZN Rise goes live with the women’s soccer season in full swing and ahead of the return of the Champions League with the knockout rounds later this month. DAZN will be hoping the free-to-air (FTA) access to its content will turn some of those viewers into paying subscribers.