DAZN takes streaming battle beyond the living room with EverPass deal
DAZN’s acquisition of EverPass Media will push the streaming group into US bars, restaurants and hotels while creating the foundation for a global commercial-venue distribution platform.
DAZN has agreed to acquire EverPass Media, giving the sports streaming group an established US commercial-venue business and technology platform as it expands beyond direct-to-consumer distribution.EverPass will become the foundation of DAZN for Business after completion, combining DAZN’s international commercial reach with a US platform serving bars, restaurants, hotels and other venues. Financial terms were not disclosed.DAZN Group chief executive Shay Segev said: “EverPass Media gives us a proven commercial distribution platform, deep relationships across U.S. venues, and an attractive portfolio of premium rights.”EverPass holds exclusive US commercial distribution rights to NFL Sunday Ticket and supplies venues with programming sourced through Peacock, Netflix, Paramount, Apple and other partners.Its wider sports inventory includes Premier League and UEFA Champions League programming alongside major US competitions.The company’s technology is designed for the increasingly complex task of managing multiple streaming services across commercial premises, including centralised screen management, scheduling and integration with existing audiovisual systems.DAZN intends to use that infrastructure internationally as the operational base for its commercial-venue business.EverPass chief executive Alex Kaplan will continue to lead the operation and take a wider role within DAZN.RedBird Capital Partners, NFL investment arm 32 Equity and TKO Group Holdings will become minority shareholders in DAZN as part of the transaction.That shareholder structure adds another strategic dimension to the acquisition, connecting DAZN more directly with investors and rights holders already embedded in the US sports ecosystem.The deal also expands DAZN’s addressable market beyond consumers watching sport at home.Commercial venues represent a distinct rights and distribution business, with bars and hospitality operators requiring products capable of handling multiple screens, services and premium events under commercial licensing arrangements.The combination gives DAZN the opportunity to position itself as an intermediary between rights holders and those venues while extending its technology and content relationships across markets.Completion will trigger the formal rebrand of EverPass as DAZN for Business, with DAZN planning further investment in the platform’s content, technology and geographic reach.