DAZN’s $100M ViewLift Deal Secures $8‑15M Guarantees for NBA, NHL Teams

DAZN has been courting NBA and NHL clubs after many teams left Main Street Sports Group and need 2026‑27 local broadcast solutions. The acquisition of ViewLift, an OTT platform that powers direct‑to‑consumer apps for franchises, adds technology and existing client relationships. Industry sources say the deal should close by the end of June, with both companies continuing pitches to the 20 available teams while negotiations proceed.

The transaction values ViewLift at roughly $100 million. DAZN is offering the NBA and NHL teams minimum guarantees between $8 million and $15 million for local game simulcasts. Rick Allen, ViewLift’s co‑founder and CEO, described DAZN as an "enormous $16 billion company with 4,000 employees."

DAZN plans to let teams keep their own DTC apps under a flexible B2B2C and SaaS model while benefiting from its global infrastructure. The guarantee range is designed to attract clubs wary of upfront costs and to build traction in local markets. If successful, DAZN could aggregate ViewLift’s existing 15 teams with many of the 20 ex‑Main Street clubs, creating a hub comparable to the NBA’s planned centralized streaming platform.