The Cavaliers may have taken a step toward making their games easier to watch at home.
According to Danny Cunningham of The Inside Shot and Locked on Cavs, DirecTV customers will be able to see Cavs games beginning with Saturday’s home opener against the Nets at Rocket Arena. Cunningham cited a source in reporting the agreement, though the Cavaliers have not confirmed or announced it themselves.
“The game will be available to DirecTV customers on channel 660,” Cunningham wrote.
That report matters because Cleveland’s deal with DAZN to carry regional games this season has already stirred up plenty of backlash. DAZN subscriptions run about $20 a month, and that price point sparked public frustration from Cavs fans on social media.
The bigger unanswered questions now are straightforward: which DirecTV packages will include the games, and whether there will be any extra charge attached.
If the broadcasts are folded into existing DirecTV plans, there’s another issue to sort through - what happens to fans who already paid for DAZN subscriptions. Refunds would seem to be the next obvious question.
What the reported DirecTV agreement does not solve is access through Spectrum, YouTube TV, or other providers. Even so, it would be a meaningful development if it holds up, because it would put the games in front of more viewers.
Earlier in the week, Ken Carman of 92.3 The Fan made his frustration with the DAZN setup clear on air.
“I think a lot of people are not going to pay this,” Carman said. “It’s bad for me, it’s bad for the team, it’s bad for the fanbase, it’s bad for what we do.”
A switch to DirecTV wouldn’t answer every complaint. But for fans trying to find the game on Saturday, it would be a real start.
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The more interesting part is how Hezonja is already navigating the little flashpoints that come with joining a contender. A couple of on-court moments needed clarification, and he addressed them by explaining his mindset and intent. For Cleveland, the bigger question is not just whether Hezonja can blend in, but how smoothly the teams top players will adapt to a new voice and a new set of ideas around shared usage and spacing. [Read more 🡒]