By Stuart Thomson
UK cable operator Virgin Media O2 and sports streamer DAZN~ have struck a distribution deal that will see a selection of DAZN’s boxing and combat sports content available to Virgin TV customers as PPV events.
The partnership will kick off with Anthony Joshua’s bout with Jermaine Franklin on Saturday 1 April 2023.
The event will be made available for Virgin TV customers to watch as a PPV add-on through their TiVo, V6, Virgin TV 360 or Stream set-top-box for £19.99(US$24.61).
The purchase will include access to the fight as well as allowing customers to redeem one month’s access to DAZN’s full service via the DAZN app at no extra cost, which can be downloaded on smart TVs, games consoles and mobile devices. The fight will be available to buy through Virgin Media from today.
As part of the agreement, the entertainment companies have plans for DAZN’s app to be made available for download on selected Virgin Media set-top boxes in future. The move will enable VMO2 customers to have big screen access to sport including the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Misfits boxing featuring YouTube stars KSI and Jake Paul and MMA’s Professional Fighter’s League.
DAZN Group CEO, Shay Segev said: “DAZN is on a mission to bring top quality sport to as many fans as possible and become the world’s sports destination platform. With Virgin Media O2’s incredible scale and reach, DAZN will be in more UK living rooms and on more screens; and Virgin TV customers will have access to even more great sport. Starting our relationship with the Joshua versus Franklin fight is a real statement about the quality that DAZN will offer fans.”
Chief TV and entertainment officer at Virgin Media O2, David Bouchier said: “We’re always looking to offer our customers access to all the best sport and entertainment, and with the Joshua vs Franklin fight set to be a showstopper, there’s no better way to kick-off our partnership with DAZN so that Virgin TV customers can enjoy every bit of the action – with lots more to come in future.”
