Per recent reporting by Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal, a new player is entering the local NBA broadcast space. U.K. based streamer DAZN (pronounced da’zone), a platform primarily known for boxing and MMA, secured streaming rights for New York-based MSG and YES networks, making them the exclusive digital provider for all non-national TV New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets games.
Karp also reported from multiple sources that DAZN was close to deals with the Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Pacers, Grizzlies, Magic, possibly the Hornets, and the San Antonio Spurs. Nothing is official, but DAZN CEO all but confirmed, telling Sports Business Journal, “We are in discussion with many other teams, and I can promise you that more teams will follow very soon.”
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This marks a notable shift in local sports broadcasting, which, until now, was handled by regional sports networks (RSNs). These are Fox Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Southwest, and most recently, FanDuel Sports Network Southwest. All of which are no more, with FanDuel Sports Network officially folding this year.
This can hardly be a surprise. RSNs have been a dying business model, limping along for years now. As the name changes suggest, the networks have changed hands several times, with one parent company, Diamond Sports Group, going through bankruptcy in 2023. DAZN was looked at as a potential buyer of the entity in 2025, but ultimately decided not to, perhaps seeing the future opportunity down the road.
These struggles have had real consequences for NBA teams beyond just their own revenue. As RSNs underperformed, the NBA salary cap can’t be propped up by the lucrative national TV deals. As a result, the salary cap did not hit its 10 percent maximum growth, instead settling for 6.7 percent.
While this isn’t a decline, it isn’t the growth the owners and players want. Other RSNs will either need to adapt or face the same fate as FanDuel Sports Network.
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Streaming is the natural progression, and DAZN stepping in makes sense. The company is already a rights holder for the NBA in several international markets, and is looking to grow its U.S. rights portfolio. The aforementioned anticipated deals could be only the beginning as the platform wants to pursue the rights to be the NBA’s centralized local streamer down the road.
What about the fans?
This is all well and good for the NBA and DAZN, but what does it mean for fans?
Provided the deals go through, it will mean streaming becomes the exclusive medium for Spurs broadcasts.
Karp reports that DAZN is willing to put forth a good amount of capital for marketing to create awareness. A small handful of games will be broadcast over-the-air or free from DAZN before fully switching over to streaming exclusively.
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How that is received will largely be dependent on the price. Currently, DAZN has a few package options. The least expensive of which is $249.99 yearly. If you are only signing up for the Spurs, that may or may not feel worth it. It’s possible those prices could change, and the idea of a less expensive, team-only or basketball-only package is feasible.
Overall, it’s a big shift but a step towards the future. RSNs simply aren’t a viable option if they can’t sustain themselves. The details are still being ironed out, but it’s certain that how fans watch the Spurs will change for the 2026-2027 season.
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