DAZN acquires EverPass Media and inks a new deal with Monumental Sports Network; Main Street Sports Group sues Comcast, Charter; and Disney reportedly makes a voluntary early retirement offer to high-ranking employees. Plus news on MLB on NBC, NWSL, NBC Sports NOW and 104.3 The Score.
DAZN acquires EverPass, inks deal with Monumental
DAZN is acquiring EverPass Media, which distributes sports programming to commercial businesses, including the NFL Sunday Ticket package. The company, which has continued to expand its footprint in the United States, is going to rebrand the platform to DAZN for Business as it becomes a majority shareholder in the venture. Minority shareholders include RedBird Capital Partners and 32 Equity, which founded the company in 2023, in addition to TKO Group Holdings. DAZN for Business is going to service venues such as bars, hotels and restaurants around the world.
EverPass recently signed a multiyear agreement with DirecTV for distribution of NFL Sunday Ticket through satellite and streaming platforms. The company also provides programming from a suite of professional sports leagues and has distribution partnerships with some streaming platforms and RSNs. DAZN CEO Shay Segev, in a statement Wednesday, called the move “an important step in DAZN’s journey to become a global home of sport,” later adding that the company “in a strong position to accelerate our vision and play an increasingly meaningful role in the U.S. sportsmarket.”
The London-based streamer, best known for combat sports in the U.S., has been steadily establishing a foothold in local sports broadcasting. On Tuesday, it was announced that DAZN will become the exclusive streaming platform of the Monumental Sports Network RSN, marking the latest addition to its growing portfolio. Monumental has primarily offered direct-to-consumer access to its properties — including the Capitals, Wizards and Mystics — via its Monumental+ service (launched two years ago) since making its broadcasts available direct to consumer in 2023.
DAZN recently announced a deal with MSG Networks and YES Network to be the exclusive DTC provider for its content, effectively replacing the Gotham Sports App starting with the 2026-27 NBA/NHL seasons. DAZN has also inked exclusive deals with the Pacers and Timberwolves for regional broadcasts, and is expected to strike deals with additional NBA teams, per Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal. The transactions occur a few months after DAZN acquired ViewLift, a sports technology services provider for direct-to-consumer and digital platforms.
MSSG sues Comcast, Charter, alleging underpaid licensing fees
Main Street Sports Group, which formerly operated the FanDuel-branded regional sports networks, has filed lawsuits in the Delaware Superior Court against Charter and Comcast alleging that both companies underpaid licensing fees for televised NBA and NHL games. The company, which announced it was preparing to wind down operations following the last NBA and NHL seasons, alleged breach of contract against both companies while claiming it “substantially performed its contractual obligations.”
The suit alleges that Comcast told Main Street Sports Group in July that it would not pay any more licensing fees, disputing Main Street’s “contractual interpretation.” Comcast had terminated its affiliation agreements with Main Street as of May 7, 2026, less than a month after the RSNs aired local coverage for the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Charter terminated the affiliation agreements on May 15, 2026, one month after receiving a letter disclosing that Main Street lost NBA and NHL telecast rights.
“A termination does not excuse Charter’s obligations to pay license fees,” the lawsuit reads. “Further, the license fees paid to MSSG are passed along to MSSG’s NBA and NHL team rights partners, as well as other creditors. By refusing to pay MSSG what it is owed for the work performed, Charter is also harming the NBA and NHL teams whose games were aired by MSSG on the local FDSN.”
Main Street also alleged that Charter Communications “underreported subscribers for license fee purposes,” which it contends resulted in an underpayment. The company alleged other underpayments, including “various additional instances of subscriber number variances” and improper rate allocation. In addition to breach of contract, MSSG alleges that “Charter breached the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing” in its contract. Although much of the lawsuit is redacted, it reads that the latter breach “caused underpayments and damages to MSSG.”
Disney reportedly makes voluntary early retirement offer to executives
The Walt Disney Company is offering a voluntary early retirement offer to high-ranking employees as part of cost-cutting efforts, according to a report by Nellie Andreeva of Deadline. Disney EVP/chief people officer Sonia Coleman wrote in a memo cited in the report that the company is “focused on meaningfully reducing costs” as it invests “in the areas that will drive our future growth: content, technology and experiences.”
The memo describes the offer as an “enhanced retirement package.” Coleman emphasized in the memo that the decision whether or not to accept is “deeply personal” and that employees would be given time to think about the process. The exact timing around the “defined election window” and subsequent confirmation period remains unknown.
Disney CFO Hugh Johnston said in the company’s most recent earnings call that the company would continue to “look at meaningful reductions to cost, including labor and SG&A.” Earlier in the month, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro said that he is “not happy with where the stock stands right now,” speaking when it was down 11% over the past year. D’Amaro reiterated in that same interview that he is not interested in spinning off ESPN.
Disney engaged in cost-cutting under former CEO Bob Iger starting in 2023 that included eliminating 7,000 jobs and a corporate restructuring. The company had yet to become profitable in streaming, which has since proved to be a lift to its earnings during the ongoing fiscal year. Disney initially planned for $5.5 billion in cost reductions, but it later announced it was on track to outperform its target by approximately $2 billion. ESPN started reporting its own financial metrics in November 2023, which occurred months after an additional round of layoffs at the network involving on-air commentators.
Plus: MLB on NBC, NWSL, NBC Sports NOW, 104.3 The Score
- NBC Sports Philadelphia play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy will make his NBC MLB national television debut with Nationals.TV analyst Kevin Frandsen, Marlins.TV analyst Jeff Nelson and reporter Jordan Cornette for the Marlins-Nationals game this Sunday, the first match within an NBC MLB tripleheader. McCarthy has called Phillies games on the regional network since returning to the broadcasts in 2008, primarily working alongside analyst John Kruk. McCarthy joins Jason Benetti, Matt Vasgersian and Dave Flemming as play-by-play voices to call MLB games for NBC Sports this season.
- The National Women’s Soccer League has reached a deal with Roku to move the Sunday night matches that were originally set for Victory+ to the Roku Sports Channel starting this week. The NWSL terminated its deal with Victory+ midway through the season, reportedly due to missed payments, and the streamer’s Sunday night matches shifted to the NWSL+ platform. Roku will carry eight matches for the remainder of the season before moving to a 25-game slate next year.
- The NBC Sports NOW FAST channel is introducing two new shows to its daily lineup, including a program featuring “Dan Patrick Show” producer Paul Pabst and former show producer/contributor Andrew Perloff. The daily one-hour weekday program, titled “Not so Fast,” will take place following the “Dan Patrick Show” and feature sports talk discussion and commentary. NBC Sports broadcaster John Fanta is also co-hosting a new Monday show, titled “Fanta in 60,” alongside the network’s sports betting analyst Jay Croucher. Both programs begin airing as part of a new weekday lineup next Monday, Aug. 31.
- Jarrett Payton will make his debut in morning drive alongside David Haugh on 104.3 The Score in Chicago next Monday as part of lineup changes at the station. Payton, who moves into the role formerly occupied by Mike Mulligan, worked as an anchor on WGN-TV 9 and is the son of Hall of Fame RB Walter Payton. The midday program no longer includes Marshall Harris, who joined the station in 2022, and will be anchored by Leila Rahimi and Mark Grote. Afternoon drive remains consistent with Matt Spiegel and Laurence Holmes, who have worked together for nearly two years and is now the station’s longest-tenured program in weekday prime hours.
