Where could DAZN, Fubo partnership go from here?
Where could DAZN, Fubo partnership go from here?
DAZN and Fubo announced a deal to share some channels, and the deal could bear further fruit in the future.
There’s a new streaming partnership in town. On Tuesday, Fubo and DAZN announced they were launching a multi-year partnership that will kick off with the platforms adding a channel from each other’s lineup. Given the unique nature of the deal, and some recent developments behind the scenes for Fubo, this partnership opens up a myriad of opportunities for both of these sports-focused streamers.
Key Details:
- More to come: DAZN and Fubo announced that their partnership would lead to more integrations in the future.
- Hulu acquisition looms: Fubo will fall under the auspices of Hulu + Live TV and Disney soon.
- Soccer to UFC: An expanded partnership could lead to the sharing of a myriad of different sports between platforms.
The deal between DAZN and Fubo will see Fubo’s free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel Fubo Sports stream on the DAZN platform. In addition, Fubo will offer previously DAZN-exclusive boxing and MMA events on a new linear channel called DAZN1, which viewers will be able to enjoy as a standalone subscription or as an add-on to their existing Fubo package. DAZN pay-per-views will also be available for purchase on Fubo.
Viewers can expect more dealings between DAZN and Fubo going forward, as the companies stated in a press release that these channels are just “the first phase of an integrated partnership, which will include additional collaborations in the future.”
The moniker DAZN1 suggests an opportunity for further partnership right off the bat. Naming the channel DAZN1 suggests that Fubo could add more networks with content from DAZN; DAZN2 could be dedicated to soccer matches like the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup (which will be broadcast on DAZN), while DAZN3 could offer darts, poker, and other competitions that viewers can currently stream with a DAZN subscription.
But there could be even more opportunities in the future. In January, Fubo announced that it was coming together with Disney-owned streamer Hulu + Live TV in a transaction that will see Disney take over 70% of Fubo’s business, despite the fact that the platforms will remain separate. That appears to create an untold number of chances for additional collaboration.
Perhaps DAZN could be packaged with the new ESPN streaming service in a bundle that reduces the price of subscribing to both. Or maybe Disney would decide to take the next step and purchase DAZN outright, acquiring its large portfolio of international sports rights to bolster the lineup currently offered by ESPN channels.
However, viewers shouldn’t expect to see any of the cable channels available on Fubo — like FS1 or Big Ten Network — move to the DAZN platform any time soon; that would require a carriage deal between DAZN and the channel in question. But perhaps Fubo and DAZN could collaborate on user interface upgrades like an improved multiview, a feature that has become very popular among sports fans on streaming platforms.
All of these prospective expansions of the alliance between DAZN and Fubo are still months or years away, but the partnership between the two, as announced on Tuesday, raises some intriguing possibilities. It will bear observing in the future, particularly if Fubo is able to move forward with its planned merger with Hulu + Live TV.
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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.
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Fubo
Fubo is a live TV streaming service offering a robust lineup of approximately 150 premier channels, with plans starting at $63.99 per month. This entry-level package provides access to local broadcast affiliates 18 of the leading 35 cable channels channels, and valuable regional sports networks (RSNs).
