In Brief (TL;DR)
We analyze the costs and schedules of DAZN and Sky to help you choose the best subscription to follow Serie A and European Cups.
We analyze the costs and schedules for Serie A and European Cups to identify the offer with the best value for money.
We analyze the costs and packages to understand which subscription offers the best value for money.
The devil is in the details. 👇 Keep reading to discover the critical steps and practical tips to avoid mistakes.
In Italy, the passion for sports is not just a pastime but a true social ritual that sets the rhythm of the week. The once sacred and unchanging Sunday soccer match has transformed into a mosaic of schedules and platforms that often confuses even the most seasoned fan. The fragmentation of television rights has created a complex landscape where the choice between DAZN and Sky is not just about the wallet, but about the entire experience of watching a sporting event.
In the context of the European market, Italy is a unique case. While in other countries the division is often clear-cut or managed through comprehensive distribution agreements, in the *Bel Paese* we are witnessing a genuine commercial “war.” This competition has accelerated the technological transition, pushing millions of users toward streaming, while still maintaining a strong base tied to the tradition of satellite.
Navigating this jungle of offers, packages, and contractual obligations requires careful analysis. It’s not just about deciding which team to watch, but understanding which technology best suits your internet connection and lifestyle. In this guide, we will analyze the current offerings in detail, comparing costs, service stability, and content depth.
Slicing the Pie: Who Broadcasts What
For the five-year period leading up to 2029, Lega Serie A has outlined a clear, albeit costly, framework for those who want to “watch everything.” The current situation shows a sharp distinction between the national league and European competitions, creating a dichotomy that often forces a double subscription.
The allocation of TV rights for the 2024-2029 cycle has confirmed DAZN as the main player for the domestic league, while Sky has consolidated its leadership in international competitions and other sports.
DAZN holds the rights to broadcast all 10 matches of every Serie A Enilive matchday. Of these, 7 are fully exclusive and 3 are co-exclusive. This means that for fans who don’t want to miss a single minute of their favorite team’s league play, the streaming platform is a must. To learn more about how to follow individual teams, you can consult our DAZN guide for top teams.
Sky, on the other hand, has responded with a massive strategic move. Although it only broadcasts 3 Serie A matches per round (Saturday at 8:45 PM, Sunday at 6:00 PM, and Monday at 8:45 PM), it has acquired almost all of the European cups. We’re talking about 185 out of 203 UEFA Champions League matches exclusively, in addition to all of the Europa League and Conference League. For a complete overview of the cups, we refer you to the guide to the Champions League and foreign leagues.
Technology Showdown: Satellite Dish vs. Fiber
The battle between Sky and DAZN is also a generational clash of technologies. On one hand, we have the historical stability of the satellite signal; on the other, the flexibility (but also the vulnerability) of internet broadcasting. In a country like Italy, where the digital divide is still a reality in several geographic areas, this factor is crucial.
Sky’s satellite service guarantees often superior image quality, with 4K HDR becoming a standard for big matches, and most importantly, no delays (latency). The risk of hearing your neighbor celebrate before you see the goal on your screen is virtually zero. It is the preferred choice for those seeking reliability and who have a traditional home setup.
DAZN operates exclusively via streaming (except for the Zona DAZN satellite channel option on Sky, which requires an additional fee). The quality depends entirely on the home connection. Although the platform has made great strides in server stability, buffering or a drop in resolution during traffic peaks remain possible, especially in areas without pure fiber (FTTH) connections.
Cost Analysis and Savings Strategies
The economic factor is, for many Italian families, the deciding one. The general trend is a progressive increase in monthly fees, justified by the rising costs of sports rights globally. However, the pricing structures of the two companies are very different.
DAZN offers a three-tiered structure: Start (multi-sport without top-tier men’s soccer), Standard (Serie A on two registered devices, simultaneous viewing on the same network), and Plus (maximum viewing freedom). Prices have increased compared to the past, making the annual subscription the only way to get a significant discount. It’s crucial to carefully evaluate which plan to activate to avoid unnecessary expenses, as explained in our in-depth look at TV subscriptions and smart savings.
Sky offers a modular system. The basic subscription (Sky TV) is mandatory, to which you can add the Sky Calcio package (for Serie A and minor foreign leagues) and the Sky Sport package (for Champions League, F1, Tennis, etc.). Sky often proposes “all-inclusive” deals for new subscribers, but the list price can become steep after the first 18 months.
Beyond Soccer: The Multi-Sport Offering
If soccer is king, other sports are the princes gaining more and more ground in the hearts of Italians, thanks to recent national successes in tennis and athletics. Here, the difference between the two platforms is stark and reflects two distinct editorial philosophies.
Sky Sport is unquestionably the home of motorsports and tennis. Formula 1, MotoGP, and the ATP/WTA tournaments (including Wimbledon and the other Slams thanks to Eurosport) are an exclusive that attracts millions of fans. Sky’s narrative, rich with technical analysis and pre-race studio shows, has become a journalistic benchmark.
DAZN focuses heavily on sports that attract a young and dynamic audience. It holds the rights to the LBA (Italian basketball) and the EuroLeague, as well as a wide range of combat sports (boxing, UFC) and the NFL. Furthermore, thanks to the Eurosport channels included in the app, it covers events like cycling and winter sports, offering a valid alternative for those who love variety. For a direct comparison of all options, including Amazon, it’s useful to read our analysis on Sky vs. DAZN vs. Prime Video.
User Experience and Viewing Culture
The choice between the two platforms also reflects a cultural shift in how sporting events are experienced. The Mediterranean tradition of communal viewing clashes with the individualism of mobile consumption.
While Sky still dominates in “Sports Bars” and family living rooms thanks to its reliability, DAZN captures the generation that wants soccer in their pocket, watchable on a smartphone on the subway or on a tablet while on vacation.
The interface of Sky Q and Sky Glass is designed to aggregate content, also integrating third-party apps (including DAZN itself), positioning itself as the central hub of home entertainment. It’s a “sedentary” system but extremely powerful and smooth.
The DAZN app is essential, focused on live events and on-demand highlights. The “Fan Zone” feature tries to introduce a social element, allowing live commenting and participation in polls, an attempt to digitize the bar-room chatter typical of Italian culture.
Conclusions
The TV rights “war” has no absolute winner, only different solutions for different needs. The final choice strictly depends on the viewer’s priorities. If the primary goal is to follow every single match of your favorite team in Serie A, DAZN remains an essential choice, despite the costs and dependence on an internet connection.
If, however, your sports passion is broader and includes the Champions League, top-level tennis, Formula 1, and international soccer, Sky (or its streaming variant NOW) offers a qualitatively richer and technically more solid package. For many Italian fans, the ideal solution—budget permitting—unfortunately remains a combination of the two services, or the targeted sharing of accounts in compliance with current regulations.
The market is fluid and offers change quickly. The advice is to view the subscription not as a lifelong commitment, but as a seasonal service to be activated and deactivated based on the sports calendar and your own consumption habits.
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