Heads up, sports bars: NFL Sunday Ticket is changing hands again, but not much should change for operators in the near-term.
EverPass, a streaming service with exclusive rights to distribute the package of NFL games to businesses, is being acquired by DAZN, a sports streaming platform based in the U.K.
EverPass’ technology will act as the foundation for DAZN’s entry into the U.S. commercial market. It will be rebranded as DAZN for Business, and EverPass CEO Alex Kaplan will remain in charge.
EverPass acquired the rights to distribute NFL Sunday Ticket to businesses in 2023. Terms of the sale to DAZN were not disclosed.
For restaurants that are currently using EverPass to stream out-of-market NFL games or other sporting events, it will be business as usual, the company said. They will continue to receive the same service and support without interruption.
Restaurants that are still getting NFL Sunday Ticket through satellite service DirecTV will also be able to continue doing so. That’s thanks to a new deal between EverPass and DirecTV, which will remain in place after EverPass becomes part of DAZN.
DirecTV has carried the NFL Sunday Ticket package since 1994, and has continued to offer it since 2023 in partnership with EverPass. EverPass was set to become the sole provider for this upcoming season until last month, when EverPass and DirecTV agreed to extend their partnership.
NFL games are an important traffic driver for many restaurants during football season, and NFL Sunday Ticket is the only way to show out-of-market Sunday afternoon games that aren’t available on linear TV.
EverPass also provides access to MLB, NBA, WNBA, Premier League, Champions League, NASCAR, PGA Tour, MLS, Formula 1, and college football and basketball.
DAZN offers a number of sporting events in the U.K., Canada, and other markets and made its initial foray into the U.S. with boxing. Acquiring EverPass will greatly expand its streaming offerings for businesses in the states.
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