Deportivo-Elche to be shown free on DAZN as LaLiga rights shift in 2026/27
Deportivo de La Coruña vs Elche will be available free on DAZN with registration, not on Teledeporte, for the opening LaLiga match of the 2026/27 season. DAZN continues to show one free match per jornada, while Movistar Plus remains the umbrella provider for all league games.
Key takeaways
- The Deportivo de La Coruña vs Elche match will be shown free on DAZN with registration for Jornada 1.
- Teledeporte will not broadcast this opening match, though it will carry highlights and other LaLiga content.
- LaLiga rights are split between Movistar Plus and DAZN for the 2026/27 season, with DAZN airing five matches per jornada.
What Happened
The opening LaLiga match for the 2026/27 season, Deportivo de La Coruña against Elche, will not be broadcast on Teledeporte. Viewers can watch the match for free on DAZN, provided they register and access via the platform’s website or apps. This follows a pattern from the previous season where certain LaLiga games were shown on Teledeporte only in the second half of the campaign, but the 2026/27 schedule marks a return to a free-to-view arrangement via DAZN for this match.
Ahead of the season, DAZN has retained the agreement to stream one free LaLiga match per jornada, with the Deportivo-Elche fixture designated as the free offering for Jornada 1. In contrast, the Movistar Plus service remains the comprehensive access point for all LaLiga matches across the season, integrating DAZN’s games into its package as part of the rights distribution arrangement.
RTVE’s Teledeporte will not carry this initial match; however, it will continue to air highlights and other sports programming from LaLiga, preserving a windows for free content, albeit not the live match in this opening round.
Why It Matters
The change underscores how LaLiga’s audiovisual rights are being distributed between DAZN and Movistar Plus, shaping how fans access live games across platforms. The free live option on DAZN expands accessibility to viewers without a paid subscription, albeit with a registration requirement. The arrangement also reinforces the continued role of Movistar Plus as the primary channel for a full-season package, while DAZN maintains a fixed set of free matches per jornada.
Background
LaLiga’s media rights for the 2026/27 season are split between Movistar Plus and DAZN, with both platforms sharing the rights rather than a single broadcaster holding the entire package. DAZN broadcasts five matches per jornada under the terms of the distribution pact, while Movistar Plus provides the rest and carries the complete set of encounters within its service. This follows discussions and prior reporting on how LaLiga’s rights are allocated between the two platforms, affecting which channels air certain fixtures and the availability of free-to-view content.
Key Facts
- Jornada 1 match: Deportivo de La Coruña vs Elche
- Date: 17/08/2026
- Broadcast: free on DAZN with user registration
- Not broadcast on Teledeporte for Jornada 1
- DAZN retains five LaLiga matches per jornada
- Movistar Plus remains the provider offering the full set of matches via its platform
- RTVE’s Teledeporte will continue to air highlights and other LaLiga-related content
- The rights arrangement confirms a split between Movistar Plus and DAZN for the season
What Happens Next
Following Jornada 1, teams in LaLiga will continue to be allocated across DAZN and Movistar Plus according to the agreed rights distribution, with additional free matches potentially scheduled on DAZN per jornada. Viewers should expect periodic updates on which fixtures will be accessible for free on DAZN and which will require a paid subscription via Movistar Plus.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
