The Cavaliers gave up about $15 million a year in TV money to go streaming-first. A reported DirecTV deal shows what that cost in reach
WhyNBA Sports Desk · Oct 24, 2026
The story
The Cleveland Cavaliers are trying to win back viewers without giving back money, and a reported DirecTV agreement is the first test of that bet.
The story
Danny Cunningham of Locked On Cavs reported Saturday that the team and DAZN reached a deal to put games on DirecTV channel 660 this season, starting with the home opener against Brooklyn.
The story
Neither the team nor DAZN had announced it as of Saturday night, and a formal announcement is expected next week.
The story
The reason it matters is the price Cleveland already paid for reach. When the Cavs signed with DAZN on September 1, Sports Business Journal reported a five-year deal worth about $20 million a year in rights fees.
The story
The old regional deal with FanDuel Sports Network paid about $35 million. Cleveland took a pay cut of roughly $15 million a year, and the trade-off was a game feed that lives behind a streaming paywall.
The numbers
Figure: Old FanDuel Sports Network rights fee; Amount: about $35M a year; Status: Reported (Sports Business Journal)
The numbers
Figure: DAZN rights fee, five-year deal; Amount: about $20M a year; Status: Reported (Sports Business Journal)
The numbers
Figure: Yearly drop; Amount: about $15M; Status: Our math from the reported figures
The numbers
Figure: DAZN Standard pass; Amount: $19.99 a month or $119.99 a season; Status: Announced
The numbers
Figure: DAZN Ultimate pass; Amount: $24.99 a month or $139.99 a season; Status: Announced
The numbers
Figure: Free over-the-air games; Amount: 15; Status: Announced (Gray Media, Cavaliers, DAZN)
The numbers
Figure: DirecTV channel 660; Amount: Carriage this season; Status: Reported, not announced
The numbers
For scale, $15 million a year is about half of the $30.24 million listed for Jarrett Allen in the site's Cavaliers salary data.
The numbers
The four biggest listed contracts there, Evan Mobley at $53.82 million, Donovan Mitchell at $50.11 million, James Harden at $39.18 million and Allen, add up to $173.35 million. That is an expensive roster to be selling to a smaller audience.
Why reach became the problem
The Cavs were one of five teams this season not carried on cable, and Awful Announcing ranked them last in the league for local broadcast access. a added up League Pass, DAZN and the national streaming packages and put the cost of seeing every game at more than $600.
Why reach became the problem
The reported DirecTV deal helps one group of fans.
Why reach became the problem
Weiss noted that YouTube TV and Optimum customers still have no comparable option, and nothing has been said about which DirecTV packages include the channel, whether it costs extra, or refunds for fans who already bought a DAZN pass.
Why reach became the problem
The free package eases some of it. Gray Media's WOIO and WUAB, plus Rock Entertainment Sports Network across Ohio, carry 15 games at no charge, and those games are also free on DAZN. The next one listed is the Thursday, October 29, game in Atlanta on WUAB.
The date that matters
The real decision comes later. According to the Sports Business Journal report, Cleveland can leave the DAZN deal once the NBA launches its planned central home for local broadcasts, which could happen as soon as 2027-28.
The date that matters
DAZN's other NBA deals, with Minnesota, Indiana, Memphis and San Antonio, are believed to include similar exits. That means this season is a one-year trial of a cheaper, narrower model. If DirecTV and the free games bring the audience back, Cleveland has a case for staying.
The date that matters
If not, the Cavs can go to the league's platform after one year.
What comes next
The Cavaliers host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, October 28, at 7:00 p.m. ET. Follow it in the Game Center, and then the October 29 game at Atlanta in its Game Center.
Photo credit
Photo by Erik Drost, CC-BY-4.0, resized. Luka Dončić is defended by Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland in January 2026.
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