Sports streaming service Dazn has confirmed plans to launch in more than 200 countries and territories this year in spite of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on its business. In a statement, Dazn said it will expand to 200 countries and territories on 01 December, with an initial monthly price point for new markets of GBP 1.99 or less. The service is currently available in 9 markets – Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil, Japan and the US.
The global debut will be tied with back-to-back weekends featuring boxing fights included in the regular subscription price, starting with Ryan Garcia vs. Luke Campbell on 05 December and Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev on 12 December. To maximise the international audience across North America and Europe, the main events for both fights will start around midnight GMT / 7pm EST / 4pm PST.
Dazn added that, at launch, the global platform will feature world championship boxing events as well as an archive of classic fights, athlete features and a slate of original programming including 40 Days, Saturday Fight Live and One Night. Additional sports and programming will be added beginning in 2021.
The OTT sports application initially announced its intention to go global in March but the pandemic reportedly forced it to furlough an unspecified number of employees and withhold rights fees due to the lack of sporting events. It subsequently reshuffled its management and initiated talks with investors about ways to raise as much as USD 1 billion in funding, either through a stock-market listing or divestment of its Japanese business, according to a Bloomberg report.
