Brexit fears prompt sports channel DAZN to open Amsterdam tech base

British online sports channel DAZN is creating 300 jobs in Amsterdam as it looks to protect its European business from the impact of Brexit.

The London-based channel is opening a new development centre as part of its plan to become the ‘Netflix of sports’. DAZN supplies livestreams of sports events such as Champions League football, Formula One and the ATP tennis tour in English and German-speaking countries and Japan.

Until now international broadcasters have favoured London as a base for pan-European operations because they can use UK licences to provide services across the EU region. But unless the UK can negotiate an equally favourable deal when it leaves the European Union in March companies will need to make new arrangements.

DAZN currently employs 1,200 staff in London, but chief product officer Ben Lavender also said Amsterdam had other advantages such as the availability of skilled IT workers. ‘The ability to hire at a speed that can match the pace of our growth is essential to our business,’ he said in a statement last week.

‘We looked at several global locations, but nothing came close to Amsterdam for its infrastructure and the ability to attract the best global tech talent.’