Major broadcaster change in reporting with a five-year contract 'on the verge of collapse'

DAZN's deal is about to collapse for the UK TV rights to this year's Indian Premier League.

After a legal battle between the Indian media company Viacom18 and the video streaming service, Sky Sports will take over the TV rights.

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DAZN signed a five-year deal last year to show T20 cricket competition in Britain, the US, Central and North Africa.

But the sports broadcaster has held talks with the Indian rights holders to terminate the contract.

As a result, Sky have offered to stream this year's IPL as they look to secure the rights to more franchise tournaments over international cricket in the winter.

If the deal is completed, Sky will screen the IPL from March to May, meaning they will have the rights to the three main T20 franchise leagues.

This comes as the broadcaster is currently streaming the Big Bash on SA20 in Australia and South Africa.

Sky has covered England's home games since 2005, but they turned down the chance to bid for India's five-Test series on Thursday.

TNT will now broadcast the event, with Sky also giving them the rights to show international cricket in Australia, New Zealand and the West Indies, along with South Africa and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, this was DAZN's chance to break into the cricket scene but it failed miserably as they plan to revoke their rights.

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In 2023, DAZN was sub-licensed for 74 IPL matches, increasing to 84 in 2025 and 2026, and 94 in 2027.

This wasn't DAZN's only deal in the sport, as they streamed the Caribbean Premier League in Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland last year.

Both Sky and DAZN have declined to comment.