DAZN makes moves to court teams left behind by RSNs
DAZN makes moves to court teams left behind by RSNs
The streamer has acquired ViewLift, which will allow it to offer a harbor to teams that want to create new direct-to-consumer services.
The demise of Main Street Sports group has left multiple NBA and NHL teams without a partner to broadcast their in-market-only games for the 2026-27 season. DAZN has been clear about its interest in acquiring local rights from such teams, and has now acquired the streaming technology firm ViewLift to help make itself a more attractive option.
Key Details:
- We’ll take it: DAZN has reached an agreement to purchase ViewLift and merge it with its own platform.
- Big step: The move will allow DAZN to offer distribution to any teams that create their own streaming platforms in the future.
- What’s next?: DAZN is officially in the running to host the NBA’s in-market streaming platform, as well.
DAZN has announced it has an agreement to merge ViewLift with its own platform. ViewLift is a “leading provider of streaming and digital solutions for content owners that is deeply embedded in U.S. sports.” Its clients already include 15 pro sports teams in the United States, such as the Vegas Golden Knights; ViewLift powers the Knights’ streaming service KnightTime+.
ViewLift will continue to operate direct-to-consumer (DTC) services like KnightTime+ independently, but they are free to sign exclusive or non-exclusive distribution agreements with DAZN in the future. But the purchase of ViewLift will help DAZN make the case to NBA, NHL, or other teams that they should consider it as home for their local rights heading into the 2026-27 season.
Buying ViewLift will allow DAZN to help teams create new DTC services of their own, as well as host those services. The platform already offers several third-party services, including NFL Game Pass in markets outside of the United States.
If DAZN’s purchase of ViewLift does convince teams to join before next season, it could be just the first step in acquiring the rights to the NBA’s centralized, in-market streaming service. The league plans to launch such a platform with as many teams as possible by 2027-28 at the latest, and it could come as early as this year.
Competition for the distribution rights to that platform will be fierce; Fubo, Prime Video, and other services are expected to be interested as well. But DAZN’s CEO of Growth Markets, Pete Oliver, told SBJ in unequivocal terms that his streamer wants to be part of the conversation.
“Obviously [the NBA] will make their decision ultimately about who their partner is, and that’s their process and we’re very respectful of that,” Oliver said of the NBA’s in-market streaming hub. “But let’s be clear, we want to be in that space.
Buying ViewLift is a clear move to lay the groundwork for a larger entrance into local rights for American sports teams. DAZN is making no secret of its desire to be in that market, and is backing up its rhetoric in that regard with action.
DAZN
DAZN is an international sports streaming service dedicated to live and on-demand sports programming. Since its launch in 2016, the platform has expanded to become one of the world’s leading sports streaming destinations, offering coverage that varies by region and includes boxing, soccer, MMA, women’s sports, motorsports, and other major competitions.