Cavaliers TV Deal Drops 43% as Regional Networks Collapse
A new contract with DAZN costs Cleveland fans less but creates a fragmented viewing experience across multiple platforms.
By Priya Marino ·
The Cleveland Cavaliers signed a multiyear broadcasting agreement with DAZN, a deal valued at approximately $20 million per year. This figure represents a 43 percent decrease from the team's previous contract value.
The shift marks the end of the Cavaliers' tenure with Main Street Sports Group. The parent company announced it would cease operations in 2026 after facing bankruptcy and financial distress. This forced the team to exit its prior arrangements with SportsChannel Ohio, Fox Sports Ohio, Bally Sports, and FanDuel.
DAZN initially offered 15 games for free streaming. The platform also secured agreements with DirecTV and U-verse to distribute games to those subscribers. These moves aim to expand access beyond the DAZN app.
Terry Pluto, a sports commentator for Ideastream Public Media, described the current situation as chaotic. He noted that fans often struggle to locate where games are airing. "It's like the games are a floating craps game," Pluto said. "You don't know where you're going to find them. Are they on Peacock where a couple of games are? Are they on Prime Video?"
The instability is not unique to Cleveland. Pluto stated that similar issues affect the entire NBA and have appeared in baseball over the past year. The Cleveland Guardians left Bally Sports Great Lakes after the 2024 season. They began producing and distributing their own games in 2025 through Major League Baseball. Fans can watch via local cable, satellite, the team's streaming service CLEGuardians.TV, and select free broadcasts on WKYC.
Pluto noted that the NFL has largely avoided these disruptions due to its limited schedule of 17 regular season games and strong national television contracts. He contrasted this with the 82-game basketball schedule and the 162-game baseball slate. The uncertainty disproportionately affects older fans who rely on traditional cable. Pluto recalled a cousin battling cancer who looked forward to Guardians games as a daily anchor. "I know people that build their days around watching the games," he said.
Pluto criticized the leagues for failing to create a stable presentation system. He warned that fans may eventually stop caring if the viewing experience remains difficult. "You know what they're gonna find is, like people just say, 'Well, forget it. I don't need to see these games all the time,'" he said.
