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By Torrey Hart
DraftKings and Turner Sports have a new multi-year agreement to make the former the exclusive sportsbook and daily fantasy sports providers across “select Turner Sports and Bleacher Report properties” outside of NBA programming.
Turner also has a separate new deal with DraftKings competitor FanDuel for NBA content. Among the broadcaster’s other offerings are MLB and PGA Tour events, as well as March Madness — but as of now, the NCAA would not allow betting integration.
Activations with DraftKings will include original content, integration of DraftKings’ betting odds and daily fantasy stats across Turner telecasts and Bleacher Report’s digital channels, including its popular app and the B/R Betting vertical, which will lead to personalized automated alerts.
For FanDuel, the deal grants access to “exclusive integrations” within NBA content, including TNT live telecasts and Bleacher Report digital channels. The partnership already began during the 2020 NBA Playoffs, when FanDuel Sportsbook odds were integrated during TNT’s “Inside The NBA” studio show, as well as various other times during live games and across Bleacher Report platforms.
“While this emerging industry continues to evolve, sports betting helps to drive engagement, increased time spent viewing and audience scale,” Will Funk, Turner Sports executive vice president, sports partnerships and branded content, said in a statement. “This alliance enhances Turner Sports’ content with betting information that our hyper-engaged, highly interactive viewers demand, while driving customer engagement and acquisition for DraftKings.”
“NBA fans across TNT and Bleacher Report are responding well to sports betting content. We’ve already seen this with the TV and digital elements we’ve designed with FanDuel this past season and are excited to expand our partnership,” Funk said about FanDuel. “Our collective goal is to grow NBA audience via engaging FanDuel interactive gaming experiences integrated across Turner Sports’ platforms.”
DraftKings has made a number of major deals in the last month or so, including partnerships with ESPN, the New York Giants and Chicago Cubs. The company also brought on Michael Jordan to its board of advisors with him taking a stake in the company.
“Regulated betting is quickly becoming a fixture of modern sports entertainment, and this collaboration with Turner Sports further scales the reach of our products and content to engage fans,” DraftKings Chief Business Officer Ezra Kucharz said. “Turner Sports platforms provide exceptional content as they continually captivate sports audiences. Their medium aligns with the DraftKings’ brand and we look forward to delivering a seamless experience for readers and viewers while also broadening our visibility.”
DraftKings and FanDuel are just the latest operators to pair with a major network. PointsBet and NBC Sports have a similar deal, as do Fox Sports with Fox Bet, and CBS Sports and William Hill. ESPN has an additional agreement with Caesars.
