DAZN To LAUNCH On COMCAST’S XFINITY X1 and XFINITY FLEX

Interesting development here, with DAZN partnering up with “old guard” cable, and making a deal that should benefit them AND Comcast.

Comcast will give a free streaming box to its internet-only subscribers,  Xfinity Flex, which costs $5 a month. And on that streaming box, DAZN will be featured.

Makes sense for both sides–Comcast is wanting to bite into the ROKU audience, appeal to chord-cutters, and DAZN wants to be appealing to those still powerful cablers, who help spread the word, with marketing pushes, about attractive fights on the calendar.

Here is the release which went out today (Thursday) to herald the development:

DAZN TO LAUNCH ON COMCAST’S XFINITY X1 AND XFINITY FLEX

·     World’s Largest Sports Streaming Service Strikes its First Distribution Deal with Major U.S. Video and Internet Provider

·     The Upcoming “Fight Season on DAZN” featuring Canelo Alvarez, Gennadiy “Triple G” Golovkin, Anthony Joshua, Andy Ruiz, Logan Paul and KSI Will Be Available to Millions of Xfinity Customers

NEW YORK (Sept. 19, 2019) – DAZN, the world’s largest sports streaming service, is now available to Comcast customers on Xfinity Flex and will be available over the Internet to millions more on Xfinity X1 this fall, marking DAZN’s first distribution deal with a major U.S. video and internet provider.

“We’re thrilled to give our Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex customers access to DAZN’s live and on-demand programming starting this fall just in time for some of the most highly anticipated events in sports this year,” said Daniel Spinosa, Vice President, Entertainment Services for Comcast Cable. “With new content from partners like DAZN, coupled with our aggregated UI, X1 is the best way to experience live sports at home, and with Flex we can extend this great content, integrated experience and voice control to our Internet-only customers directly on their TVs.”

As part of a new global initiative DAZN for Operators, DAZN now provides a turnkey opportunity for cable, satellite, mobile and internet providers to offer DAZN’s premium sports content as a major value add to their customers.

“DAZN for Operators is our new partnership program, in which we collaborate with the world’s leading pay TV operators, ISPs and mobile carriers to make the live sports experience even more accessible and better to watch for fans,” said Ben King, DAZN SVP, Global Distribution and Business Development. “We couldn’t think of a better inaugural partner than Comcast.”

Later this year, customers will be able to find DAZN’s content more deeply integrated within the X1 and Flex experiences, including direct access within the sports hub, the ultimate destination for all things sports on X1 and Flex, and the ability to call up a specific program with the Xfinity Voice Remote (“show me ChangeUp”). Flex is now included with an Xfinity Internet-only subscription, providing new and existing customers with the ability to easily access their favorite streaming services and manage their connected home devices right on the TV.

The launch coincides with DAZN’s blockbuster fall schedule of combat sports events. “Fight Season on DAZN” features:

–       Oct. 5 – Triple G vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko – IBF Middleweight World Championship

–       Oct. 26 – Bellator 232: Rory MacDonald vs. Douglas Lima – Welterweight Championship

–       Nov. 2 – Canelo Alvarez vs. Sergey Kovalev – WBO Light Heavyweight Championship

–       Nov. 9 – KSI vs. Logan Paul II

–       Dec. 7 – Andy Ruiz vs. Anthony Joshua II – WBA, WBO, IBF Heavyweight World Championship

Since its introduction to the U.S. market in September 2018, DAZN has continued to add to its content portfolio, which includes thousands of live and on-demand sporting and other events each year. In April, it premiered a live MLB show ChangeUp that features the best action from around the league each day. The service also unveiled a new docu-series 40 DAYS which pairs celebrity executive producers with boxers to document their preparation leading up to fight night. On Sept. 9, the long-awaited daily talk show from former NFL All-Pro punter Pat McAfee launched on DAZN.

DAZN offers an annual pass for $99.99, and also a monthly option at $19.99 for those customers more focused on flexibility.