The New York Knicks will have a new local streaming home as they defend their NBA title. So will the New York Yankees, Brooklyn Nets, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres. And if DAZN gets its way, those seven teams will just be the start.
A day after announcing partnerships with local broadcasters MSG and YES, DAZN announced a deal Thursday morning with the Minnesota Timberwolves, making it the exclusive home of the NBA franchise’s games within the team’s local broadcast territory. Pricing for that new team-based service, as well as the financials and length of the agreement, have not been announced. DAZN said 15 games will stream for free this season.
U.K.-founded DAZN first entered the U.S. in 2018 with a focus on combat sports and a desire to stream a lot more. Internationally, it has offered events ranging from NFL games to the World Cup in different markets. As American teams sort out their digital distribution plans, DAZN’s latest partnerships are the clearest indicator yet that it is serious about bidding for streaming deals on a team-by-team basis.
DAZN currently costs $35/month in the U.S. or $250/year, though the company has the capability to change prices regionally based on the content available. YES and MSG+ access will likely be sold in separate subscriptions as well as in a bundled package, as they have been within the Gotham Sports app.
