SPORTS streaming service DAZN will launch in the UK in May with Saul Alvarez’s expected fight against Billy Joe Saunders kicking off their first global event.
DAZN – dubbed the ‘Netflix of Sport’ – have revealed they are expanding to over 200 countries and territories having had great success in the nine countries they broadcast in so far.
Canelo’s expected fight against Billy Joe Saunders will kick-off DAZN’s global launch
To day, DAZN is available across four continents, with Austria, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the United States the only countries to watch it in.
But now the live streaming site is set to take on Britain’s major broadcasters, with Canelo vs WBO super-middleweight champion Saunders to kick-off the launch on May 2.
Speaking on the expansion, DAZN Group Executive Chairman John Skipper said: “Beginning this spring, most of the world will have access to DAZN and its unmatched schedule of boxing events.
“Our roster of championship fighters represents some of the world’s most popular athletes and we’ll be working with them to stage spectacular international events for years to come.”
DAZN EVP Joseph Markowski added: “Establishing DAZN as the global home of fight sports is just the first step and we couldn’t think of a better attraction for our inaugural event than Canelo’s traditional Cinco de Mayo Weekend fight.”
It is understood that DAZN hope to dip their toes into broadcasting other major sports besides from boxing – including showing Premier League football.
In December, DAZN acquired the rights in Germany to broadcast the Champions League from 2021, while the competition as well as the Prem is available in Japan and Canada.
Speaking at a press conference last year, Skipper said: “The UK is a logical DAZN market.
“In terms of the rights in this country, obviously you need Premier League rights, boxing is very important here and tennis is very important here.”
The London-based DAZN is an attractive option for fight fans as it is considerably cheaper than pay-per-view prices, which can cost up to £24.95.
Instead of paying for one-off events, fans pay around £4.99 a month for the service, where DAZN shows roughly 12 events a year.
DAZN, pronounced “Dazone”, is home to a number of pound-for-pound stars, with Canelo, Gennady Golovkin and Katie Taylor all signed.
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has a £780m deal with DAZN, where his stable of fighters have their bouts broadcast live should they compete outside of the UK.
Anthony Joshua banked £32million last year from outside of the ring after trademarking his name
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
