Hello everyone, and welcome back to FreeAstroScience! I'm Gerd Dani, and as you know, here at FreeAstroScience we take the hottest and most complex topics and break them down simply, so we can understand them together. Today I want to talk about a burning issue, one that hits both the wallets and passion of millions of Italians: football on TV. And I'll tell you straight up: this year, I didn't renew my DAZN subscription.
It was a painful decision because I love football, but it was inevitable. In this article, I want to explain why these prices are, in my opinion, completely out of touch with our country's reality and how they effectively fuel the very phenomenon we all condemn—piracy. I invite you to read to the end, because this isn't just about money, but about respect for our passion.
But first, let me throw out three controversial ideas that might make you uncomfortable: What if DAZN's pricing strategy is deliberately designed to maintain exclusivity for wealthy viewers? What if the platform actually benefits from piracy because it creates artificial scarcity that justifies premium pricing? What if the real goal isn't maximising subscribers but maximising revenue per subscriber, even at the cost of alienating the working class? Now, before you think I've gone completely mad, let me refute these provocative thoughts and explain the real situation we're facing.
A Price List That'll Make Your Head Spin
The new season is approaching and, like every year, it's time to reckon with subscription costs. DAZN has updated its offering for 2025-2026 and, whilst the package names have changed, the substance hasn't improved—quite the opposite Let's analyse these figures together so you understand what we're dealing with.
The "All-Inclusive" Package: DAZN FULL
This is the package that gives you access to everything: all 10 Serie A matches every matchday, Serie B, international football, and loads of other sports thanks to the Eurosport partnership. Sounds lovely, doesn't it? Shame about the cost.
If you want maximum flexibility, paying month by month, prepare to shell out 44.99 euros Yes, you read that correctly. Nearly 50 euros. If instead you commit for a full year, the price drops to 34.99 euros per month with monthly payments, or you can pay everything upfront for 359 euros, which works out to about 29.92 euros monthly here's the real kicker: with this plan, you can only use two devices if they're connected to the same internet network So forget about sharing the subscription with a mate or relative who doesn't live with you. It's a limitation that, frankly, feels like taking the piss.
The Novelty: Is the "MyClub Pass" Really a Bargain?
This year they've introduced something new: the MyClub Pass, for following only your beloved team's matches in Serie A The idea seems sound, but let's look at the numbers. It costs 329 euros annually with advance payment, or 29.99 euros monthly with a 12-month commitment
They try to convince us by saying that, on average, each match would cost you 8.65 euros, compared to 14.42 euros for a basic stadium season ticket But are we really comparing the emotion of being at the stadium—the atmosphere, the chanting, the experience—with watching from your sofa? It's a comparison that doesn't hold water. And who guarantees us perfect service without the usual buffering problems or video quality issues?
The Real Problem: A Monopoly That Benefits No One
Here's the crucial point. Why are these prices so high? The answer is simple: lack of competition. DAZN holds the rights for all 10 matches of every Serie A matchday This means they hold all the cards.
When a company has a monopoly on such a desired product, it can afford to set whatever price it wants. And we fans find ourselves backed into a corner: either pay these exorbitant amounts or give up following your team. There's no middle ground, no legal and more affordable alternative for the complete Serie A package.
This Is How Piracy Gets Fed (Which I Condemn)
Now I want to be crystal clear on one point: piracy is a crime. It's illegal, it damages the industry, the clubs, and the entire football system. I don't justify it and I'll never encourage it.
That said, we can't be hypocrites and bury our heads in the sand. Faced with a subscription that can cost nearly 70 euros monthly (the Family plan for two different networks costs 69.99 euros without annual commitment what do you think a family on a normal salary will do? Or a student? Or simply someone who considers it unfair to pay so much?
Many, unfortunately, will look for shortcuts. The "pezzotto" (illegal streaming) doesn't emerge from nothing. It also stems from the frustration of feeling excluded from a popular passion due to insurmountable economic barriers. DAZN's strategy, instead of making football accessible to combat piracy through convenience, seems almost to push people towards illegality. It's a business choice that indirectly feeds the very problem it claims to want to fight.
My Choice Is Made—What About Yours?
In the end, the conclusion is simple. My passion for football isn't worth 45 euros monthly. Not under these conditions, not with these limitations, and not with the feeling of being seen merely as a wallet to empty. I've chosen to say enough. I'll follow football in other ways—perhaps going to the stadium more often for home matches, listening to the radio, settling for highlights.
Perhaps it's time for the entire football system, from Serie A to the clubs, to ask itself some serious questions. Is this the future we want? A future where Italians' greatest and most popular passion becomes a luxury for the few? I don't think so.
The numbers speak for themselves: when a monthly subscription costs more than many people's weekly grocery budget, something has gone fundamentally wrong. We're not talking about a premium luxury service here—we're talking about access to our national sport, our cultural heritage, our weekend ritual that brings families and communities together.
What do you think? Are you renewing? Cancelling? Are you as frustrated as I am? Let's talk about it.
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