DAZN launches ‘innovation hub’ DAZN X following Texel acquisition

Sports streaming outfit DAZN Group has launched a new ‘innovation hub’, DAZN X, following its acquisition of Israel-based Texel.

DAZN says that DAZN X was born out of its acquisition of the video streaming innovation company, which employs 50 people in Tel-Aviv.  DAZN X will operate as a global business unit across all DAZN’s core markets.

The Texel team will join DAZN X to work alongside DAZN’s existing technology and product teams.

DAZN says that the new unit will focus on developing interactive and engaging content layers for fans as part of its sports streaming service.

It said that its subscribers will soon be able to talk, share, shop and play with their friends and communities while live streaming premium sports content, thanks to innovations in the pipeline.

Texel, founded in 2016 by Amir Segev, an ex-Verizon, Harmonic. LiveU and Kaltura employee, and Guy Zisman, ex-co-founder of Groovideo and ex-employee of Wochit and Seambi, is centred on Engagement Cloud, a video cloud-engine focused on providing engagement tools and personalisation capabilities.

Shay Segev, DAZN Co-CEO, said: “We are here to revolutionise the sports viewing experience by making it more exciting, more sociable and engaging. Our acquisition of Texel and the launch of DAZN X significantly accelerates our strategy and positions us as the world’s leading sports innovator.”

CEO and co-founder of Texel Segev, said: “DAZN shares our vision of redefining the viewer experience by providing richer, more relevant and interactive content. We are immensely motivated as we join the fantastic teams at DAZN to innovate and reshape sports viewing for the better.”

Zisman, CTO and co-founder of Texel, said: “DAZN subscribers can look forward to enjoying a seamless multi-screen socialized experience, delivered by our powerful proprietary cloud-based engagement technology.”