Milwaukee Bucks launch in-house streaming service, skipping DAZN amid post-Antetokounmpo era
The Milwaukee Bucks have become the second NBA team to join the league's own streaming platform, following the Oklahoma City Thunder, by launching a service called Bucks+ for in-market fans at $100 per season or $20 per month. Rather than joining DAZN as most other former FanDuel Sports Network teams have done, the Bucks gave up a reported $1 million to $2 million rights fee that DAZN was offering participating teams, according to Sports Business Journal. Sources cited in that report suggest the trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat influenced the decision, with the team believing a less familiar platform was a harder sell without its marquee star. The streaming option supplements an over-the-air local broadcast arrangement reportedly worth $7 million to $8 million in rights fees, and the NBA's broader plan is to consolidate in-market streaming rights across all 30 teams into a centralized hub beginning in the 2027-28 season.
Sources said if the team had not traded Giannis Antetokounmpo, the franchise might have migrated to DAZN.
Why it matters
For brands: Sponsors and advertisers working with the Bucks need to understand where and how games will be delivered to local audiences this season.
For media: The Bucks' decision to bypass DAZN in favor of the NBA's own infrastructure signals a potential shift in how local pro sports rights are distributed, with league-run streaming becoming a viable alternative.
For athletes: Players on teams still weighing local streaming options may see their visibility and fanbase access affected by which platform their franchise chooses.
Read the full story at Yahoo Sports
Sources
- Yahoo Sports: Milwaukee Bucks join NBA’s in-house streamer, partly because of Giannis Antetokounmpo trade
- Awful Announcing · Drew Lerner: Milwaukee Bucks join NBA’s in-house streamer, partly because of Giannis Antetokounmpo trade