DAZN strikes deal to Launch Fight Series on Pluto TV

https://www.multichannel.com/news/dazn-to-launch-fight-series-pluto-tv DAZN to Launch Fight Series on Pluto TV ‘DAZN Fight Zone’ to debut on Pluto TV Fight channel R. Thomas Umstead Oct 23, 2019 Sports streaming service DAZN will look to expand its reach with a new weekly series launching on streaming service Pluto TV beginning Oct. 24. The weekly, three-hour series, DAZN Fight Zone, will stream on Pluto TV’s Fight channel and will feature original content surrounding its upcoming marquee fights as well as archived classic fights. In addition, Pluto TV will program fight week events from open workouts to press conferences and fight weigh-ins, according to network officials. Among the original shows set to air on DAZN Fight Zone is the special 40 Days: Canelo vs. Kovalev, executive produced by LeBron James, Maverick Carter and Carlos Vela, which will profile the Nov. 2 Canelo Alvarez-Sergey Kovalev light heavyweight fight. DAZN executive vice president North America Joseph Markowski said that the deal allows DAZN to showcase its fight archive and original fight programming outside of the service’s monthly $19.99 pay wall, a strategy that he says has paid dividends for the service internationally. “WE are an OTT service first and foremost, but we need to provide our content outside of our four walls to grow our brand and to drive sports fans back to our service,” he said. “We will be producing content especially for Pluto featuring our marquee fighters to the Pluto audience.” The deal comes as DAZN prepares to offer several marquee fights over the next two months including the Oct. 26 Regis Prograis-Josh Taylor WBA super lightweight championship; the Nov. 2 Canelo Alvarez-Sergey Kovalev light heavyweight championship; the Nov. 7 Naoya Inoue-Nonito Donaire bantamweight championship; the Nov. 9 KSI-Logan Paul II boxing event; and the Dec. 7 Andy Ruiz-Anthony Joshua II heavyweight championship. “We’re able to put DAZN content in front of the paywall, which allows us to grow our brand and drive people to our key upcoming events,” Markowski said. He added that DAZN will look to partner with other content distributors across a number of platforms in an effort to gain exposure for the brand. “This fall, DAZN has the best possible schedule in boxing and we’ll be looking to send that message across as many channels as possible,” Markowski said.