Fantasy sports operator DraftKings will livestream top-level European professional basketball this winter, "joining Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo and a slew of smaller online platforms in vying for the attention of cord-cutting sports fans," according to Novy-Williams, Ludlow & Simmons of BLOOMBERG. DraftKings customers in the U.S. and Canada will be able to watch EuroLeague games on the company’s mobile app and "enter a new set of contests centered around the league." It is the first time daily fantasy sports and live broadcasts of the events "are being offered on one platform." DraftKings is "banking on the idea" that putting the two types of content together will drive interest -- and revenue -- for both parties. DraftKings co-Founder & CEO Jason Robins said, "I think if we can demonstrate that, there will be other sports that will be eager to work with us in the same way." Robins declined to say how much DraftKings is paying for the EuroLeague rights, but it is "fair to assume" it is "not much." The games "may entice some die-hard basketball fans," but their real value to DraftKings is "proving the concept" to other leagues and rights holders like ESPN or Fox Sports (BLOOMBERG, 11/7).
