Cavaliers hand local game streaming to DAZN in new multi-year deal

Lead

The Cleveland Cavaliers have announced a multi-year exclusive local broadcast partnership with DAZN, a deal that will make the streaming service the home for the club’s locally available games and team content from the 2026-27 NBA season. Source 1Source 2 The agreement combines a change in distribution with a new in-house production model, significantly broader camera coverage and presentation features built around predictive artificial intelligence, data overlays and augmented-reality elements. Source 1

What happened

The Cavaliers and DAZN made the partnership public on 1 September 2026. Source 1Source 2 Beginning in 2026-27, DAZN will exclusively stream Cavaliers regular-season games that are not selected for national television, as well as every preseason game and team-produced original programming. Source 1 The club’s Rock Entertainment Sports Network, known as RESN, will move game production in-house and, alongside DAZN, serve as the main portal brand for Cavaliers games and content. Source 1 DAZN will also distribute selected RESN programming free of charge. Source 1

The production plan calls for camera coverage to rise from six cameras to 19, including Cosm ultra-high-resolution 10.5K systems. Source 1 The broadcasts will use predictive AI, data-led visual overlays and mixed- and augmented-reality components. Source 1 Within the DAZN app, viewers will be able to choose alternative broadcasts or use multi-view configurations. Source 1 John Michael, Brad Daugherty, Serena Winters and Cayleigh Griffin are set to remain in their familiar commentary roles. Source 1

Why it matters

For fans, the agreement places the bulk of Cleveland’s non-national regular-season schedule, preseason games and original club programmes in one streaming destination. Source 1 It also preserves some free access: 15 games will be available on DAZN at no cost and simulcast over the air locally. Source 1 Full-season and half-season Cavs United and Foundation Members will receive a complimentary DAZN subscription for the season. Source 1Source 2

The viewing offer includes a weekly show and extended game highlights, in addition to live games. Source 1Source 2 Subscription choices are listed as £19.99 per month for the Monthly Pass, £24.99 per month for Monthly Pass Ultimate, £119.99 per year for the Season Pass and £139.99 per year for Season Pass Ultimate, with those figures supplied as approximate sterling equivalents for UK readers. Source 1Source 2 The timing comes after Cleveland finished the 2025-26 regular season fourth in the Eastern Conference and second in the Central Division with a 52-30 record, securing a play-off berth. Source 3

What’s next

The first practical test will be the rollout of DAZN and the new RESN-produced presentation ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. Source 1 Cleveland’s currently listed fixture is a home game against the Boston Celtics at Rocket Arena on 8 October, scheduled for 23:00 UTC. Source 4 The broadcast arrangement covers all preseason games and regular-season games not chosen for national television, so national selections will remain outside this exclusive local package. Source 1 Fans will also be able to assess how the alternative feeds, multi-view option and expanded camera plan work in the DAZN app once games are carried under the new deal. Source 1

Notes

The announcement describes the agreement as multi-year but does not give a specific duration in the supplied information. Source 1Source 2 The listed subscription figures are approximate pound-sterling conversions for UK readers, while the free-game arrangement is described as a local over-the-air simulcast. Source 1Source 2 Cleveland recorded a 61-43 mark across 104 recorded games in 2025-26, averaging 117.3 points scored and 114.8 conceded per game. Source 5