News & Insight
Posted on February 8, 2024
By Loic Dalle
DAZN Group, the world’s sports entertainment platform, the International Basketball Federation, FIBA and Two Circles, have announced a new long-term strategic partnership that sees DAZN become a global distributor of Courtside 1891*.
Courtside 1891 is the home of FIBA live streaming, with a focus on national team basketball. FIBA and Two Circles launched Courtside 1891 in 2022 as part of a strategic direct-to-consumer (D2C) partnership, with the service being a part of FIBA’s extensive broadcast distribution of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 last year.
Courtside 1891 hosts live and on-demand content from FIBA’s international competitions, including both FIBA World Cups and their Qualifiers, as well as all FIBA Continental Cup competitions and Youth World Cups. In addition, users can watch live and on-demand content from pan-regional club competitions such as Basketball Champions League, Intercontinental Cup, Euroleague Women and East Asia Super League as well as from domestic leagues such as Liga Endesa, NBL, Japanese B. League and much more.
The new announcement will see Courtside 1891 made available as a standalone offering on DAZN, with both premium paid-for and free-to-access content available to registered users, similar to NFL Game Pass, which was launched globally on DAZN in 2023.
This builds on DAZN and FIBA’s longstanding relationship, centred on their joint venture, FIBA Media, which remains unchanged. Since 2016, DAZN and FIBA have partnered in operating FIBA Media, in particular, to maximise the B2B distribution of FIBA’s expansive media rights.
Under this new arrangement, FIBA will leverage DAZN’s global reach and innovative technology stack to extend its D2C distribution and develop new engaging formats and products for the Courtside 1891 proposition. This arrangement will complement the existing extensive set of broadcast relationships which FIBA Media has negotiated with media partners, ensuring global distribution of live coverage from FIBA’s premier competitions.
To celebrate the launch of Courtside 1891 on DAZN, games played by the USA and France national teams throughout February 2024 in the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the FIBA Continental Cup Qualifiers will be available to fans within the USA and France respectively for free on Courtside 1891 on DAZN.
Shay Segev, DAZN Group CEO, said: “DAZN already has a strong portfolio of basketball on our platform. Basketball is the third most watched sport on DAZN and we have big ambitions to become a primary destination for fans of the sport across the world. We have had a long and collaborative relationship with FIBA, and I look forward to working ever more closely with them and other partners to bring this premium action to basketball fans.”
Frank Leenders, Director General of FIBA Media and Marketing Services, said: “FIBA is very pleased to announce this partnership with DAZN, which represents an important extension of the distribution and visibility of FIBA’s major events through the Courtside 1891 product. Furthermore, this addition to the already expansive partnership between FIBA and DAZN is an example of the synergies we have achieved together. DAZN is the global leader in sports D2C and they continue to recognise the undoubted value of both international and club basketball.”
Kris Gotsch, Two Circles’ Managing Director, EMEA Services & Product, said: “This latest partnership marks a significant step in our collaborative journey to bring more basketball to more fans, in more markets around the world. By developing these direct, genuine relationships we hope to create even more opportunities to know our fans best for years to come.”
DAZN already broadcasts a number of other basketball competitions in various markets, including the National Basketball Association (NBA) in Germany and Belgium; the Women’s NBA in Germany, Austria and Switzerland; the Basketball Champions League in France and Italy; the basketball Serie A (LBA), EuroLeague and EuroCup in Italy; FIBA in Japan and Italy; and Liga ACB in Portugal.
*Excluding China and MENA
This article first appeared here
