Observed Signal · Sep 14, 2026 · Hiring · Source: DWDL · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
DAZN's Alice Mascia Departs, Felix Krause to Become CEO
DAZN's DACH region CEO, Alice Mascia, will step down at the end of 2026 after four years, having led the region to profitability and secured Bundesliga conference rights, though she faced legal challenges over price increases and lost Champions League rights to Paramount from 2027/28. Felix Krause, who previously helped build DAZN in the German-speaking region and later oversaw digital business at ProSiebenSat.1, will return as Deputy CEO immediately and become sole CEO on January 1, 2027. During Mascia's tenure, DAZN also secured Europa League and Conference League rights for next season. Internationally, DAZN appointed Patrick Delany as COO, Alex Gersh as CFO, and Darren Waterman as Chief Business Officer. The transition marks a significant leadership change in one of DAZN's key markets.
Leadership changes at a major sports streaming platform, relevant to CTV/OTT advertising ecosystem but not a breakthrough event.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Alice Mascia steps down as DAZN DACH CEO at the end of 2026 after four years, having led the region to profitability.
- Felix Krause will return to DAZN as Deputy CEO immediately and become sole CEO on January 1, 2027.
- Mascia secured Bundesliga conference rights and lost Champions League rights to Paramount+ from 2027/28; DAZN will broadcast Europa League and Conference League next season.
- DAZN faced a court ruling that its price increase terms were intransparent and unreasonable.
- Patrick Delany (COO), Alex Gersh (CFO), and Darren Waterman (Chief Business Officer) were appointed in international roles.
Connected Companies & Entities
7 Entities mapped“DAZN announced that Alice Mascia will leave the company....”
“Felix Krause had moved to ProSiebenSat.1 in 2025....”
“DAZN lost Champions League rights to Paramount+ from 2027....”
“Patrick Delany was CEO of the Australian Foxtel Group and led its integration into DAZN....”
“DAZN shares Bundesliga rights with competitor Sky....”
“DAZN lost Champions League rights to Paramount+ from 2027....”
“Alex Gersh was CFO of Sportradar before joining DAZN....”
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Has DAZN Now Reached a Turning Point?
This DWDL.de interview with Haruka Gruber reviews DAZN's ten-year evolution from a niche sports streamer launched in Germany and Japan in 2015 to a major global sports-rights player. Gruber recalls early technical and payment failures, the platform's strategic shift into linear and FAST channels (2019 onward), and heavy investments in high-profile rights that drove subscription prices up. DAZN lost future German Champions League rights to Paramount+ but sees more commercial opportunity in Europa League and Conference League inventory. The company, backed by investor Leonard Blavatnik, reports being significantly profitable in 2024 and 2025 and expects to remain profitable in 2026 while expanding focus on Switzerland and Austria.
DAZN extends Serie A rights in German-speaking region
DAZN has agreed a premature extension of its broadcast rights for Italy's Serie A, ensuring the league — along with the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa — will remain available on the sports streamer in Germany, Austria and Switzerland through the 2028/29 season. The streamer will also continue to show Italy national team matches in the UEFA Nations League and the European Championship qualifiers. Alice Mascia, CEO DACH at DAZN, emphasized the continuation of the partnership and the availability of original Italian commentary and DAZN Italia studio broadcasts. The article notes broader rights shifts in European club football, including Paramount+ securing Champions League rights from 2027/28, while DAZN holds Europa League and Conference League rights.
DAZN Wins Austrian Champions League Rights
The article reports that Sky will lose the TV and streaming rights to UEFA's three major club competitions in Austria from the 2027/28 season, with DAZN acquiring the Champions League rights in Austria through 2031. DAZN will show 186 live Champions League matches per season, covering all fixtures except one Tuesday evening match for which Sky retains a 'first pick' right. Canal+ has acquired the top-match rights historically held elsewhere and bought the Europa League and Conference League in Austria; ProSiebenSat.1 secured two matches per year (the Champions League final and the Supercup) for free-to-air broadcast on Puls4. The change follows the European Commission's recent approval of RTL Deutschland's takeover of Sky Deutschland, and executives from Sky, DAZN and Canal+ commented on the new rights allocations and strategic implications.
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