DAZN ‘closing in’ on broadcast deal with Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions

According to The Times, the sports streaming service is confident of finalising a long-term UK and global deal with Queensbury in the coming weeks. The promotion currently has a contract with pay-TV broadcaster TNT Sports in the UK which expires next year.

Speaking to Box Nation, Queensbury’s founder and chairman Warren (pictured above left) said he is “happy with TNT Sports” and plans to honour the contract.

If a new deal is struck, it would mean Queensbury joining Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing on DAZN. Matchroom inked a five-year contract with DAZN in June 2021 reportedly worth well into nine figures, making the streamer the global broadcast home of the promotion in an agreement that saw it replace Sky Sports.

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DAZN has been positioning itself as the home of boxing in the UK and a deal with Queensbury would strengthen its foothold in the country where it is headquartered.

Indeed, boxing has been an attractive sport globally for DAZN ever since the broadcaster launched. The exit of major networks such as HBO and Showtime opened up market share, while Sky Sports’ commitment to boxing has been questioned since Matchroom’s departure. The UK pay-TV broadcaster’s current contract with Ben Shalom’s Boxxer is due to expire in 2025.

Adding Queensbury to its boxing lineup would mean DAZN being able to show more bouts featuring a mix of fighters promoted by Hearn and Warren, something that would be hugely appealing to fans after last month’s ‘5 vs 5’ event in Riyadh. The two biggest promotors in the UK have set aside a long-standing rivalry so they can cash in on Saudi Arabia’s interest in boxing. Having the same broadcast partner would allow for even closer ties between the pair.

Queensbury signing with DAZN would also likely clear any obstacles for a long-touted clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, which could come next year. Joshua already has a career-long pact with DAZN and has a stake in the company.

Recent Saudi cards involving Matchroom and Queensbury have seen UK broadcasters ink sub-licensing deals in order to boost pay-per-view (PPV) revenues. It is unclear if DAZN will be as willing to continue such arrangements if it adds Queensbury, though Saudi Arabia may have a say given its desire to draw big audiences for its boxing events. SportsPro Media