DraftKings has agreed a deal to become the official daily fantasy sports offering across all platforms operated by US sports broadcaster and Disney subsidiary ESPN.
Under the agreement, the terms of which were not disclosed, both companies will benefit from branding and promotional opportunities across multiple ESPN and DraftKings platforms.
Such opportunities will include integration into digital properties and television programming.
Walt Disney Company-owned ESPN has already established itself as one of the leading fantasy sports providers in the US, having provided games and content in the country for over 20 years.
According to figures from the broadcaster, more than 12 million fans currently play the top four games across ESPN Fantasy, while its ESPN Fantasy Football games registers 25 million transactions and 47 million alerts each week.
“ESPN and DraftKings share a history of innovating and advancing fantasy sports to serve this passionate fan base,” ESPN president and Disney Media Networks co-chairman, John Skipper, said.
“DraftKings is a dynamic company – deeply connected to its fans – and we’re excited to have them on board as our official daily fantasy sports offering.”
Jason Robins, chief executive officer of DraftKings, added: “Together, we will provide fans with the most robust, diverse and comprehensive fantasy sports experience.”
The move comes after iGaming Business reported this week that DraftKings will not be receiving investment from Disney or its ESPN subsidiary.
Reports earlier this year suggested that Disney and ESPN were planning to invest as much as $250 million (€223.7 million) in a deal that, at the time, valued the daily fantasy sports provider at approximately $900 million.
However, reports this week suggest that DraftKings has entered into advanced talks to raise a large round of funding from other strategic investors.
Aside from its activity in the US, DraftKings is also said to be closing in on acquiring a licence in the UK market.
source : www.igamingbusiness.com
