DAZN offers boxing events to drive U.S. subscriptions, but it doesn’t plan to remain a niche serviceGETTY IMAGES
DAZN has "reached about 4 million subscribers" worldwide, and the sports streaming service is now available in nine global markets, including the U.S., according to Linda Hardesty of FIERCEVIDEO.com. DAZN Exec VP/North America Joe Markowski said the service is "very much on track" to be in 20 markets worldwide by '20. In the U.S., DAZN is offering boxing events to "initially drive subscriptions," but it "doesn’t plan to remain a niche service." Outside of the U.S., DAZN "holds streaming rights to league sports including the NFL, NBA and NHL." Markowski said that the company is in "conversations with these leagues to expand its offerings in the U.S." He also said that DAZN is "open to partnering with U.S. telcos as a strategy to generate marketing and brand awareness" (FIERCEVIDEO.com, 5/15).
ROUND THE BASES: AWFUL ANNOUNCING's Joe Lucia wrote DAZN's new MLB program "ChangeUp" is "unlike every whiparound show you’ve ever seen -- for better and for worse." It is a "less compelling show than 'MLB Tonight,' but unlike 'MLB Tonight,' it airs every night and does not get cut in length by live games." The show seems like a "proof of concept of sorts for DAZN in the American market." It demonstrates that the outlet can "create a studio show for a major sport, geared at a specific group of fans, and the company won’t embarrass itself or the league it's covering." DAZN needs to "use this show as a springboard into bigger and better things with various leagues in the U.S." (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 5/15).
