DAZN Secures Exclusive Streaming Rights for MSG and YES Networks, Eyes Additional NBA Teams

DAZN will serve as the exclusive direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming platform for MSG and YES beginning in the 2026-27 NBA and NHL seasons. The agreement covers all non-national game broadcasts for MSG’s Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, Devils and Sabres, and YES’s Yankees and Nets. Existing Gotham Sports App users will be migrated to DAZN, while cable, satellite and virtual MVPD subscribers keep the same linear feeds. The deal, pending NBA approval, includes undisclosed rights fees and a revenue-sharing arrangement for advertising.

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MSG and YES launched separate DTC apps in 2023, merged them into the Gotham Sports App in 2024, and have faced mounting financial pressure. MSG restructured $804 million of debt in 2025, cutting its intra-company rights fees to the Knicks and Rangers and shortening contracts to end in 2028-29. Cord-cutting has strained the regional-sports-network model, prompting several properties to seek streaming-only solutions.

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• Minimum guarantees for the five NBA teams range from $8 million to over $20 million.

DAZN reportedly ‘close’ to securing local rights for several NBA teams, will overtake MSG and YES streaming

• A revenue-sharing model will allocate advertising, virtual-signage, OTA fees and subscription revenue to the teams after DAZN recoups its guarantees.

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• Yankees streaming on the Gotham platform posted a 33 % year-over-year increase in the most recent MLB season.

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• Sources estimate the NBA expects a streaming partner to pay roughly $1 billion annually for a centralized local-rights hub covering 20-29 teams.

DAZN reportedly ‘close’ to securing local rights for several NBA teams, will overtake MSG and YES streaming

• DAZN is backed by billionaire owner Sir Len Blavatnik and receives capital from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

DAZN reportedly ‘close’ to securing local rights for several NBA teams, will overtake MSG and YES streaming

DAZN CEO Shay Segev said the partnership is the first step toward aggregating local NBA rights nationally. YES Network President Jon Litner highlighted the “great momentum” of the Gotham Sports App and framed the move to DAZN as a way to “elevate the streaming experience.” MSG Networks senior vice president Kevin Marotta praised DAZN’s platform and expressed excitement following the Knicks’ championship season.

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• “If we want to become the biggest sport platform in the world, we need to be in the biggest market in the world,” — Shay Segev, CEO

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• “We have great momentum with our Gotham Sports App and all of our viewing metrics and subscription numbers,” — Jon Litner, CEO

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By consolidating the streaming rights of nine NBA franchises—including the Knicks and Nets—DAZN will control roughly one-third of the league’s local markets for 2026-27. The arrangement positions DAZN to compete with ESPN and YouTube for the NBA’s centralized local-rights hub slated for 2027-28, and could influence future negotiations with other leagues and regional networks.

DAZN reportedly ‘close’ to securing local rights for several NBA teams, will overtake MSG and YES streaming Sports Business Journal

• Fall 2026 – DAZN assumes exclusive DTC streaming for MSG and YES.

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• 2026-27 NBA/NHL seasons – Migration of Gotham users to DAZN; linear feeds continue for pay-TV customers.

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• Coming weeks – DAZN expected to finalize pending local-rights deals with the Cavaliers, Timberwolves, Pacers, Spurs, Grizzlies, Magic and possibly the Hornets.

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Rights-fee amounts and final terms of pending agreements remain undisclosed. League approval is still required for additional NBA deals, and the exact migration timeline has not been publicly detailed.

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