DAZN Clinches MLB Deal

Sports streaming platform DAZN has entered into a three-year live digital rights partnership in the U.S. with Major League Baseball (MLB).

The deal begins with the 2019 MLB regular season and will deliver a live show co-produced by MLB and DAZN each weeknight. There also will be on-demand MLB content and live weekend wrap shows available to DAZN subscribers.

“DAZN’s multisport streaming platform provides Major League Baseball and our clubs an important opportunity to extend the game’s digital reach,” said Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. “Our collaborative production will benefit DAZN’s subscribers with new ways to follow the captivating storylines, talented young stars and impactful plays happening around the game every day.”

“We are thrilled to partner with MLB on this important new initiative, which will be a great complement to and promotion of the outstanding lineup of live games from its national and regional broadcasters,” said John Skipper, executive chairman of DAZN Group. “We will target young multicultural fans, many of whom do not have pay television. The fast-paced nature of a whip-around show will appeal to this audience and bring in new fans. Ultimately, our goal with MLB is to grow both the overall audience for baseball and the burgeoning DAZN business.”

DAZN is available in the U.S. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, Italy and Canada. It is expanding to Spain in 2019. It has worked with MLB internationally since 2016 for live game coverage.