Channel integration is a first

DraftKings Basketball is now live on Sling TV, giving both subscribers and free users access to betting odds and real-time game scores.

DraftKings shared news of its April 22 basketball tip-off on Sling TV – the Massachusetts-based sports betting giant’s first-ever information channel integration with a live streaming service – via Twitter:

DraftKings Baseball and DraftKings Hockey channels will follow next on Sling TV “in the coming weeks”, a news release announced.

Sling TV president Michael Schwimmer said the basketball channel was “just the beginning” of how the TV service intends to deliver the DraftKings sports experience to customers. He added: “We will continue expanding and enhancing our offerings to be the ultimate entertainment experience for sports fans.”

Strategic partnership gathering momentum

DraftKings’ informational channel go-live on Sling TV follows a March 2021 strategic partnership inked with parent company DISH Network to integrate the sportsbook’s app onto the TV provider’s Hopper platform.

DraftKings president of product and technology and co-founder Paul Liebermans said the sports betting company continually looks at new angles “to reach customers through innovative collaborations with recognizable brands” such as Sling TV.

an entirely new viewership experience through this first-of-its-kind streaming service”

Lieberman added in the news release that DraftKings was “thrilled” to grow the relationship, which he said will offer Sling TV users “an entirely new viewership experience through this first-of-its-kind streaming service.”

On its new basketball channel, DraftKings is offering Sling TV users a free $50 wager upon first deposit for signing up with the sportsbook.

Robust alliances with media companies continue

DraftKings has been racking up an impressive war chest of media company partnerships over the past year. In September 2020, DraftKings landed a major deal with sports media broadcaster ESPN, with link integrations to its sportsbook from ESPN’s digital channels.

At the time, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins pronounced ESPN’s reach “unparalleled”.

One month later, the betting operator inked a multi-year agreement with Bleacher Report owner Turner Sports, a subsidiary of WarnerMedia. The October 2020 deal secured DraftKings exclusive sportsbook and daily fantasy sports provider rights across Turner Sports telecasts, the Bleacher Report app, and all Bleacher Report digital channels.