Thanks: 
Likes: 
Dislikes: 
Re: Eddie hearn set to announce major u.s. Streaming partnership with dazn
Exclusive: Eddie Hearn's 'Netflix of Boxing' venture boosted by billionaire backer Sir Len Blavatnik
Eddie Hearn has been riding the crest of a wave with the rise of heavyweight Anthony Joshua but his meeting with billionaire Sir Len Blavatnik has raised his motivation and expectations even further.
Hearn has signed an agreement with Blavatnik's Perform Group in the USA for the steaming service DAZN, an all-sport platform which started two years ago, with the aim to bring a new wave of boxing to the United States.
Hearn told The Sunday Telegraph: “The meeting was fascinating. Myself and AJ went to his house in Kensington, next to Prince William. It was quite an experience.
“It was a wow moment. We’ve all seen nice houses, but it wasn’t the house, it was the way he spoke. The passion about the project, his vision and his financial aggressiveness. He has a plan and it’s working.
"He’s a hugely knowledgeable man and is someone who makes you feel like this is going to work, and it doesn’t matter what it takes.
"He saw the vision with Spotify and now has a huge amount of investment in the Perform Group. He just looked us in the eye and said 'You know this is going to work, don’t you? Trust me'.
“He sees the future, he’s seen the future of broadcasting. And it’s not just him, ESPN have done the same thing.
"Showtime and HBO are working on their digital services. Look at Netflix, they’re worth more than Disney. They’ve for 140 million subscribers worldwide. His plan is to be the Netflix of sport. When you’re as aggressive as he is, and when you have the pockets he has – I would back him every day of the week.
"I don’t see this as a risk for us, I see this as an opportunity. Jumping ship to DAZN is not a risk, it’s a reward. Fighters will see that as time goes on. They pay more money than anyone else and are with the best promotion in the world and on a platform that will drive up your profile and invest in you.”
As well as Joshua's triple title defence against Russian Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium on September 22 being broadcast on the DAZN platform in the USA, Hearn's first forays in the United States will be two shows in Chicago on October 6 and in Boston on October 20.
The shows include world title fights with British and Irish fighters Billy Joe Saunders, Callum Johnson and Katie Taylor, as well as Hearn's new American signings. It has even led to talks with fighting legend Manny Pacquiao, in a bid to sign the fighting politician.
Hearn said: “The most important thing for us when we selected our US partner was a huge budget and a huge number of dates.
"Matchroom and DAZN have to be in synergy. We’re similar because we’re both cool, high tech and penetrating a huge audience. We want to keep within the traditional nature of the sport, but we want to be new too.
“We have a huge job ahead of us because we’re up against it and people want to see us fail. It’s easy to mug Matchroom and DAZN off. But if you’ve got the balls to move away from the traditional platforms, you’ll be rewarded in spades."
Blavatnik may not be a boxing connoisseur, but he understands its entertainment value.
“He knew who Anthony Joshua was, obviously. They want to see huge nights and huge fights on their platform. They know it will take time, but it’ll happen sooner rather than later.”
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/edd...150000919.html
 |
|
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Alpha
Bookmarks