Sports streaming platform DAZN has announced a distribution deal with Virgin Media O2, which will see a selection of combat sports events take place on PPV for Virgin TV customers.
The deal kicks-off this weekend for the Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin on 1 April, available for TV customers with Virgin on PPV for a price of £19.99 on 28 March.
DAZN events will be made available for Virgin customers throughout the year and the sports streaming platform is also offering customers one-month access to the DAZN App with no extra costs, which can be downloaded on smart TVs.
Shay Segev, Dazn Group CEO, commented: “DAZN is on a mission to bring top quality sport to as many fans as possible and become the world’s sports destination platform.
“With Virgin Media O2’s incredible scale and reach, DAZN will be in more UK living rooms and on more screens; and Virgin TV customers will have access to even more great sport. Starting our relationship with the Joshua versus Franklin fight is a real statement about the quality that Dazn will offer fans.”
The deal also entails that DAZN content is expanding and becoming more readily available through the integration into Virgin Media TV boxes, where customers can access DAZN licenced events such as KSI and Jake Paul Misfit Boxing matches, as well as fights from the MMA promotion the Professional Fighter’s League (PFL).
“We’re always looking to offer our customers access to all the best sport and entertainment, and with the Joshua vs Franklin fight set to be a showstopper, there’s no better way to kick-off our partnership with Dazn so that Virgin TV customers can enjoy every bit of the action – with lots more to come in future,” added David Bouchier, Chief Entertainment TV and Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media O2.
DAZN has also recently expanded its sports catalogue of events in the last several days, acquiring broadcast rights to show 31 Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches on the streaming platform.
Since selling its global media rights back in June 2022 for a fee of approximately $6.2bn, the IPL has become one of the most valuable sporting leagues in the world. DAZN is looking to capitalise on the popularity of the league, which will also broadcast IPL playoff matches and the finals as a part of its 31 game offering.
