DAZN will stream the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments free of charge in selected international markets, giving viewers access to live games, highlights and full match replays.
DAZN will stream March Madness for free in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Poland, Portugal, Belgium, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Bulgaria and the Philippines. It will also be free in the Middle East and North Africa, including Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The sports streaming platform said it would be the exclusive free-to-view home for March Madness in those territories, as it looks to broaden international interest in US college sport.
Earlier this week, Disney+ said it would also stream March Madness across Europe and South Africa
March Madness features 68 teams in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, with the competition running from the First Four through to the championship games in April.
Selection Sunday, when the final teams are confirmed, will take place on March 15. The men’s First Four is scheduled for March 17-18, followed by the women’s First Four on March 18-19. The men’s championship game will be played on April 6, while the women’s final is set for April 5.
For the men’s tournament, the Final Four and championship game will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The women’s Final Four and championship game will take place at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.
Shay Segev, DAZN Group CEO, said making the tournament available free outside the US would help bring the event to a wider audience as global demand for American sports continues to grow.
DAZN said the offer would be available to both new and existing users in the selected markets.
