The Cavaliers could soon have a new local television home.
According to Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal, streaming platform DAZN is close to acquiring exclusive local broadcast rights for five NBA teams beginning next season, including Cleveland, the Timberwolves, Pacers, Spurs and Grizzlies. The report was highlighted by Drew Lerner of Awful Announcing.
DAZN is also expected to secure streaming-only arrangements with the Magic and possibly the Hornets, while the company is reportedly set to take over streaming operations currently handled by the Gotham Sports app for the Knicks and Nets, among other New York-area teams.
For Cavaliers fans, the move would represent another major change in the ever-evolving regional sports television landscape.
Diamond Sports Group, later renamed Main Street Sports Group, previously carried Cleveland games through FanDuel Sports Network before the company’s regional sports business collapsed.
According to Sports Business Journal, DAZN would pay guaranteed rights fees ranging from roughly $8 million to $20 million annually, depending on market size, while also sharing future subscription, advertising and other revenue with participating teams.
The agreements are expected to be relatively short-term. The NBA has been working toward launching a centralized local streaming platform before the 2027-28 season, making flexibility an important part of any current deals.
Karp reported that many of the agreements are expected to last one season or include mutual opt-out clauses after next year.
Several teams are also expected to continue making a portion of their games available over the air, allowing fans to watch select broadcasts without a streaming subscription.
For DAZN, the deals would mark its biggest step yet into the American local sports market. The company reportedly views the upcoming season as an opportunity to establish itself before the NBA eventually consolidates local media rights into a league-wide streaming model.
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