DIRECTV has reached a multi-year distribution agreement with DAZN to carry local television broadcasts involving five National Basketball Association (NBA) teams, expanding its regional sports coverage as the league’s local distribution arrangements continue to evolve.
The agreement covers locally-televised games from Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs, with broadcasts available to eligible DIRECTV satellite, streaming and U-verse television subscribers within each team’s designated home territory.
The games will be available to DIRECTV customers with the Choice programming package or higher, along with U-verse subscribers receiving the U200 package or higher. Each team’s DAZN service provides live game coverage, along with pregame and postgame programming.
DIRECTV said eligible customers will also be able to access the games through DAZN’s streaming platform using their existing DIRECTV login credentials at no additional charge. That feature is expected to become available in the coming weeks. The agreement also extends to DIRECTV for Business, allowing commercial establishments such as sports bars, restaurants and fitness centers to show the games within each team’s authorized distribution territory.
“Our goal is to bring together more of the live sports that local fans enjoy most, all in one place, with greater choice, flexibility, and control over how they watch and what they pay,” Rob Thun, the Chief Content Officer at DIRECTV, said in a statement.
The agreement provides DIRECTV with additional distribution rights as professional sports teams increasingly move away from traditional regional sports network arrangements in favor of alternative television and streaming partnerships.
DAZN has assembled a portfolio of local NBA distribution rights, allowing it to provide game coverage through its own streaming service and through agreements with traditional pay television operators.
“We’ve built an extensive roster of NBA team media rights in the U.S., and partnerships like this one with DIRECTV are one of the ways we get games in front of the widest possible audience,” Shay Segev, Chief Executive Officer of DAZN Group, said in a statement.
Under the agreement:
- Cavaliers games will be available on DIRECTV Channel 660 and U-verse Channels 734 and 1734.
- Pacers games will be carried on DIRECTV Channel 671 and U-verse Channels 749 and 1749.
- Grizzlies games will be available on DIRECTV Channel 649 and U-verse Channels 728 and 1728.
- Timberwolves games will be available on DIRECTV Channel 668. (U-verse is not available in the Timberwolves’ home territory.)
- Spurs games will be carried on DIRECTV Channel 680 and U-verse Channels 756 and 1756.
DIRECTV said it has secured local or regional distribution rights for 76 of the 81 U.S.-based franchises across the NBA, National Hockey League (NHL) and Major League Baseball (MLB).
