US television provider DISH Network and DraftKings have confirmed a strategic agreement this week. Under the terms of the deal, DraftKings’ sportsbook and DFS experiences will be made available to DISH customers nationwide across its portfolio of brands. The partnership begins with a first-of-its-kind DraftKings app integration on the DISH TV Hopper platform.
The agreement also allows for subsequent DraftKings sportsbook and daily fantasy experiences with DISH Network’s SLING TV and Boost Mobile in the future.
Brian Neylon, Group President, DISH TV, commented: “The integration with DraftKings is an exciting enhancement for our customers and a great addition to the growing DISH TV Hopper platform — a one-stop entertainment hub.
“We’re thrilled to work with DraftKings to amplify the sports-fan experience, and extend the DraftKings footprint across our unique suite of services, including SLING TV and Boost Mobile, with potential applications across our 5G wireless buildout in the future.”
DISH TV customers with an internet-connected Hopper family receiver will be able to access the DraftKings app to view betting odds and fantasy contests. They can initiate bets or contest entries directly from their TV, then set recordings and watch the live sports that correspond with those bets or fantasy teams.
Once a bet or fantasy contest entry is initiated, customers will be prompted via text message to complete the transaction within the firm’s app on their mobile device. Once launched, DISH TV customers can initiate bets for NCAA basketball, NBA, and NHL from the app via Hopper, with additional features to come.
Paul Liberman, President of Product and Technology and Co-founder at DraftKings, explained: “Our deal with DISH TV and the technology behind it immerses customers within a next-generation viewership experience and reaches these fanbases in a completely new way. This is a unique opportunity for fans to watch games and engage with our real-money products while the technology also allows for further innovation ahead.”
