Global sports subscription heavyweight DAZN has signed a deal to acquire EverPass Media, the platform that delivers live sports content to commercial businesses.
Through the acquisition, a platform called DAZN for Business is being launched, with EverPass to rebrand under that name once the tie-up is completed.
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The list of major EverPass shareholders – including RedBird Capital Partners, TKO, and 32 Equity – will now become DAZN shareholders, as the heavyweight OTT platform trades away some of its equity through this agreement. Alex Kaplan, chief executive at EverPass, will continue as head of that business, and also take on a larger role within DAZN.
EverPass was founded by 32 Equity – the investment arm of American football's NFL – and RedBird in 2023, and is best known for holding exclusive commercial distribution rights to all NFL Sunday Ticket regular-season games.
As such, DAZN now takes on that set of rights, which cover every live, out-of-market, Sunday afternoon NFL game.
This deal comes after EverPass and DirecTV finally settled a contractual wrangle over Sunday Ticket rights in July.
Aside from Sunday Ticket rights, EverPass also provides commercial premises with access to top-tier sports properties such as soccer's English Premier League and UEFA Champions League, motor racing's Formula 1, golf's PGA Tour, baseball's MLB, and basketball's NBA.
EverPass is essentially a content distribution service aimed at bringing live sports and entertainment content to commercial establishments – such as bars and restaurants – in the US.
In addition, it has distribution partnerships in place with media and streaming giants such as Apple, Paramount, Netflix, and Peacock.
Now, DAZN has said it will invest in EverPass' "capabilities, content offering, and geographic reach."
Shay Segev, DAZN Group's chief executive, commented: "This is an important step in DAZN’s journey to become a global home of sport.
“EverPass Media gives us a proven commercial distribution platform, deep relationships across U.S. venues, and an attractive portfolio of premium rights that perfectly complements our growing US business.
“We are excited to welcome RedBird, 32 Equity, and TKO as shareholders in DAZN. With RedBird’s track record of building and partnering with category-defining businesses – combined with our years-long, successful relationship with the NFL – we are in a strong position to accelerate our vision and play an increasingly meaningful role in the US sports market.”
In terms of recent DAZN expansion activity, the sports heavyweight launched a dedicated international channel for US college sports action earlier this week. The NCAA College Sports Channel has been created as a new service bringing top-tier collegiate sporting action from the US to over 200 global markets.
Gerry Cardinale, RedBird Capital Partners' founder and managing partner, added: "EverPass delivers a purpose-built streaming platform which will help anchor DAZN’s commercial business and US expansion. We’re looking forward to working closely with DAZN in this next phase to scale the EverPass business globally.”
The EverPass-Apple TV distribution deal was unveiled in late February, the most recent of its tie-ups in that respect.
