Overview
- The Indiana Pacers announced Thursday that they signed a five-year deal making DAZN their primary local streaming home with 22 regular-season games and four preseason games free in year one and 15 of those games also airing on over-the-air television.
- DAZN will sell a Pacers-branded package with a seven-day free trial, an Early Bird season pass for $59.99 through Oct. 15, and regular pricing of $119.99 per year or $19.99 per month.
- Reporting cited by industry outlets says the deal includes a roughly $8 million guarantee and a 50/50 split of advertising revenue, plus a mutual exit option after the first season to allow teams to join a possible NBA centralized streaming hub.
- Team executives said the move responds to a sharp decline in paid-TV access in the Pacers’ market and aims to reach fans across phones, smart TVs and consoles, but fans have posted widespread complaints about paying for local games.
- The Pacers’ deal is part of a broader reshaping of local NBA media after the collapse of several RSNs, and it could affect team revenue, ad-sales reliance, and the league’s plans for a single national platform in the coming year.