DAZN Buys ViewLift, Aims to Reshape US Local Sports Streaming

NEW YORK, NY – April 30, 2026 – Global sports entertainment leader DAZN announced today it has reached an agreement to acquire ViewLift, a US-based streaming technology provider, in a strategic move poised to reshape the turbulent landscape of American local sports broadcasting. The deal signals DAZN's aggressive expansion into the United States, targeting the void left by the ongoing collapse of the traditional regional sports network (RSN) model.

While DAZN is already a dominant force in over 200 markets and the international home for NFL Game Pass and NHL.TV, its US presence has largely been anchored by its extensive boxing portfolio. This acquisition marks a significant pivot, positioning the company not just as a direct-to-consumer platform, but as a critical technology partner for sports leagues and individual teams navigating a period of unprecedented disruption. ViewLift, which provides streaming solutions for 15 major US pro sports teams and five RSNs, gives DAZN an immediate and deeply embedded foothold in the very market it aims to serve.

A Lifeline in a Disrupted Market

The timing of the acquisition is no coincidence. The US regional sports network ecosystem is in turmoil. For decades, RSNs were a lucrative cornerstone of the cable bundle, but relentless cord-cutting has decimated their subscriber base and revenue streams. The most dramatic example has been the journey of Diamond Sports Group, operator of the Bally Sports networks, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023 under the weight of billions in debt. While it has since emerged, it has done so by renegotiating rights deals and slashing payments to teams, leaving franchises scrambling for financial stability and a reliable way to reach their local fanbases.

This chaos has forced teams and leagues to explore urgent alternatives. Some have pivoted to over-the-air broadcasting, while others have experimented with their own direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming apps—a costly and technologically complex undertaking. It is precisely this challenge that the DAZN-ViewLift combination aims to solve. By merging DAZN’s global, built-for-sport technology platform with ViewLift’s end-to-end OTT solutions and existing US client relationships, the new entity can offer a powerful, turnkey service for sports properties wanting to control their own destiny.

The Strategic Pivot: From Global DTC to Local Partner

This deal represents a calculated evolution of DAZN's US strategy. Rather than competing head-to-head with every team for subscribers, DAZN is now offering to power their streaming ambitions from behind the scenes. The acquisition enables DAZN to extend its platform into a flexible business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model. This hybrid approach allows a league or club to maintain its own branded DTC product and fan relationships while leveraging DAZN's formidable global infrastructure, technology, and experience streaming over 140,000 live events annually.

Shay Segev, DAZN Group CEO, emphasized the strategic importance of this new capability. "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," Segev said in a statement. He called ViewLift a "superb company" with deep relationships across the US sports ecosystem, highlighting the immediate value it brings to DAZN's expansion plans.

Upon completion of the deal, ViewLift will operate as a business unit within DAZN, with its current leadership and team remaining in place to service its portfolio of clients, which includes teams in the NBA, NHL, and MLB, as well as partners like the NHL and LIV Golf.

Combining Global Scale with Local Expertise

The synergy between the two companies is central to the deal's logic. DAZN brings massive scale, a proven technology stack built for the rigors of live sports, and a track record as a partner to the world's largest rights holders. ViewLift, founded in 2008, contributes deep local market insights, a robust portfolio of American clients, and an end-to-end platform that handles everything from content management and multi-platform distribution to flexible monetization and real-time analytics.

This combination provides what many teams are desperately seeking: a future-proof solution in a volatile market. For teams hesitant to build a streaming service from scratch or partner with an unproven entity, the backing of a global giant like DAZN provides a significant safety net. Rick Allen, CEO of ViewLift, highlighted this benefit for clients. "For major US pro sports teams, the combination will offer uniquely powerful future-proofing in a disrupted market," he stated. "And for up-and-coming leagues and teams, we'll provide a full suite of digital solutions with high-quality, cost-effective technology."

The Future of the Hometown Broadcast

The DAZN-ViewLift merger enters a competitive and rapidly consolidating B2B streaming market. Competitors like Deltatre, which recently acquired Endeavor Streaming, are also vying to become the go-to technology backbone for sports properties. However, DAZN’s unique position as both a massive consumer-facing brand and a B2B service provider could give it a distinct advantage.

The deal is a major bet on a future where local sports rights are unbundled from the traditional cable package and delivered directly to fans over the internet. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has publicly predicted that major streaming services will eventually acquire local media rights, noting the immense value and engagement of hometown games. The DAZN-ViewLift entity is now perfectly positioned to facilitate that transition, offering a compelling alternative to teams that may not want to hand their local rights entirely over to a single tech behemoth like Amazon. By providing the tools for teams to build their own streaming future, DAZN is not just expanding its US footprint—it is making a bid to become the essential infrastructure powering the next generation of sports consumption.