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| (Image Source: DAZN Group) |
DAZN Group recently announced it has reached an agreement to merge ViewLift, a leading provider of streaming and digital solutions for content owners that is deeply embedded in US sports, into DAZN, the world’s leading sports entertainment platform which streams more than 140,000 live events annually and available in over 200 markets worldwide and the global partner of leading US sports leagues including the National Football League (NFL) and the National Hockey League (NHL) which operates NFL Game Pass and NHL.TV outside the United States.
Already the primary international destination for American sports, the announcement signals DAZN’s ambition to also play a pivotal role within the US sports ecosystem. Once complete, the acquisition will enable the company to enter the rapidly evolving distribution landscape providing comprehensive streaming and content solutions to teams and leagues impacted by disruption in the US regional sports distribution model. The move is a significant step forward in DAZN’s US growth plans which also include partnering with US leagues and major sporting events to accelerate their international growth, expanding DAZN’s boxing portfolio in the US and extending into broader opportunities across streaming and viewer engagement. DAZN brings worldwide scale, the leading built-for-sport technology platform, and an established track record as the partner of choice for the largest global rights holders while ViewLift is the largest independent provider of direct-to-consumer and digitally related services to major US professional sports teams. It will bring strong US partner relationships and a robust portfolio of clients at the league and team level to DAZN as well as deep local market insights and an outstanding team with a track record of delivery for US rights holders and growing global properties. ViewLift’s strong portfolio of entertainment and news clients including 15 major US pro sports teams, five Regional Sports Networks, and global sports properties also complements DAZN’s broader B2B2C services outside the US. On completion, the combination will enable DAZN to extend its platform into a flexible B2B2C and SaaS model, supporting leagues and clubs that wish to maintain their own direct-to-consumer products while benefiting from DAZN’s global reach, infrastructure, and integrated ecosystem.
Together, these highly-complemented businesses plan to bring compelling and future-proof offerings for leagues and teams seeking to deliver their content to hometown fans during a period of rapid change while offering highly differentiated solutions globally. The companies expect that their combined reach and capabilities will enable clients to delight audiences with an offering that is stronger than any other product in the market. In addition to accelerating US growth, the acquisition will further strengthen DAZN’s capability around the world to partner with all sports, leagues, and teams of all sizes as well as top entertainment and news brands. Founded in 2008 in the United States, ViewLift provides end‑to‑end OTT and direct-to-consumer streaming solutions to NBA, NHL, and MLB teams as well as partners including the NHL, LIV Golf, Versant, and Fox Sports (Latin America) and enables rights holders and networks to launch, operate, and scale streaming products for their fans quickly and cost-effectively. Following completion, ViewLift’s business, including its technology platform and sports portfolio, will operate as a business unit within DAZN and will continue to be led by ViewLift’s experienced executive leadership and serviced by the entire ViewLift team. DAZN Group CEO Shay Segev said, “This announcement is an exciting step forward in DAZN’s US expansion plans. ViewLift is a superb company – it’s a profitable sports technology business led by an experienced management team with deep relationships across the US sports ecosystem. The acquisition will enable DAZN to expand both its US presence and its platform capabilities – extending beyond its direct-to-consumer offering into a scalable B2B2C and SaaS model that allows leagues and clubs to operate their own digital products while leveraging DAZN’s global reach and technology. We look forward to completing the acquisition and bringing the entire team and their clients into the DAZN family. Together, we can play a pivotal role in the US sports market, supporting a growing roster of teams, leagues, and competitions with world-class technologies and experiences for their fans.”
ViewLift CEO Rick Allen said, “We are delighted to have reached this agreement with DAZN. Sports fans around the world recognize DAZN as the global home of sport. Upon joining DAZN, we’ll bring our current clients in sports, entertainment, and news even deeper solutions to meet their evolving needs. For major US pro sports teams, the combination will offer uniquely powerful future-proofing in a disrupted market. And for up-and-coming leagues and teams, we’ll provide a full suite of digital solutions with high-quality, cost-effective technology.” Following completion, ViewLift will become part of DAZN Group, further strengthening DAZN’s ability to support leagues, teams, and partners worldwide with scalable streaming, direct‑to‑consumer, and business-to-business solutions. These combined capabilities will further advance DAZN’s ambition to build the definitive global home of sport. In connection with the transaction, Citigroup Global Markets Limited and Rockefeller Capital Management served as the exclusive financial advisers to DAZN Group and ViewLift, respectively.
