The sports sector has seen a drastic change in this phase, & the heart of this disruption lies in the rapid increase to make an app like DAZN. As modern users avoid using old cable TV, the need for an on-demand, accessible, & live sports streaming app is booming like never before. DAZN is often called the Netflix of Sports, and has become a worldwide innovator by providing a smooth, subscription-based service that comes up with replays, live matches, & specific sports content on users’ devices.
In 2025, consumer behavior has changed a lot. Users want ultra-customized content, minimal latency, real-time interactivity, & the freedom to choose their favourite show from anywhere and at any time. This provides a great opportunity for businesses, tech companies, & sports networks to make a next-gen app like DAZN or beyond.
This blog will give you a deep understanding of how to make an app like DAZN, not only from tech expertise, but from a UX, business, & growth perspective. Whether you are a product manager, founder, or tech addict, this roadmap will help you turn your goals into a functional & revenue-generating yield.
Understand DAZN: The Standard
What do you mean by DAZN?
DAZN (pronounced as Da Zone) is a global sports TV live TV app founded in 2016 that provides on-demand & live content for MMA, soccer, boxing, & more. A diverse traditional sports announcer that depends on cable packages, DAZN works on a D2C model, which makes it a cost-effective & user-friendly.
Market Reach & Subscription Model
Working in more than 200 countries in 2025, DAZN makes use of a flexible subscription method:
- Pay-Per-View for specific events
- Free trial choices to attract users
- Monthly & annual subscription models
Their revenue model is developed on offering accessible pricing while maintaining brand loyalty, and their consistency in delivering content & value.
USP
- Flexible Access: Users have access to resume/pause across every device, real-time push notifications, & offline downloads available.
- Multi-Device Compatibility: DAZN enables the availability of content at all platforms, such as mobile apps, Smart TVs, & desktops.
- Real-Time Analytics: DAZN backend uses the latest streaming algorithms to alter quality & maintain smooth experiences, even at the time of bandwidth transformation.
- Customized Feeds: They provide custom user interfaces that depend on sports preferences, trending events, & recent views.
Must Read: Top 10 Ideas to Build Sports App in 2025
Why Make a Sports Streaming App in 2025?
The sports functioning environment is growing, and not only for giants such as ESPN or DAZN. Let’s have a look at why there is a significant increase in making live sports streaming apps in 2025.
Monetization Opportunities
Apps can click into:
- Pay-Per-View
- Subscriptions (SVOD)
- Hybrid models
- Ad-supported models (AVOD)
Also, merchandise, in-app features, & selling sole content rights increase lifetime value significantly.
Surge in Sports Viewership
The blend of young mobile-first audiences, global sports supporters, & cord-cutting trends has significantly changed the viewing habits. Over 65% Gen-Z now look for streaming sports, not for cable TV, & 85% users look for content on their mobile devices.
Emerging Trends
- Customized Streaming: AI assistant replays & resumes as per consumer interest.
- VR/AR Integration: You can view games from the right seat in the stadium with your VR headsets.
- Real-Time Data Overlays: Heatmaps, In-match statistics, & replays through ML overlays.
Market Potential
The global sports market is estimated to reach $160 billion by 2027. New competitors with niche approaches, like esports or regional cricket, are engaging huge VC interest.
Tech Advancements
2025 comes up with extensive 5G/6G rollout, smart streaming codes, edge computing, making a real-time, interactive experience, & high-definition more smooth than ever.
Core Features of a DAZN-Like App in 2025
If you want to compete with DAZN, your app must include these features to make it future-ready. Let’s divide it into three categories to understand it better.
Customer-Fa cing Features
First, we will look at the features from the user perspective that you have to include in your sports app.
Live Streaming & VOD
You should include live streaming & VOD in your app, so that users can view them at their convenience. So, announcers should include live on-demand facilities so that they can replay it anytime and won’t miss any details.
Customized Recommendations
If you make an app like DAZN, you can integrate AI-based customized recommendation features to improve user experience. This will help you recommend the sports or events based on their preferences to increase engagement.
Multi-language Support
You should ensure that your app supports different languages, which will help you reach the right users worldwide. This will not only increase user engagement but also help to expand your reach globally.
Payment Gateway & Subscription Model
You must provide affordable plans to the fans of sports streaming apps to make sure that they enjoy watching live events while maintaining their budget. Also, you should provide pay-per-view options that will increase your profit smoothly.
Social Engagement
By integrating social media features into your sports streaming app, to can make it unique. This will allow users to directly share the clips, comment on their social media for insights & awareness.
Offline Viewing
It might be possible that users do not have much time to view live events & sports due to a busy schedule. So, the offline viewing option can help in watching the stream when they are free or have a bad internet connection.
Admin-Panel
Now, let’s look at the Admin panel features that you should include in your sports streaming app.
Push Notification Manager
You should include this feature so that they can send updates on the live events, matches, or if there are any offers. Getting notified about the events or matches is very important to avoid any mishaps.
User Analytics Dashboard
This feature is important to know about churn, user retention, customer lifetime value, & engagement. This will provide you with detailed analytics about user habits, behavior.
Ad Management
This feature will allow tracking earnings & ad placements if Advertising-based Video on Demand is in use. You don’t have to look one by one, but with proper Ad management, you can count earnings.
Content Management System
CMS will allow you to edit, upload, & categorize videos easily, despite looking at them one by one.
Advanced Features
These are a few advanced features that you need to integrate into your app for better performance, scalability, & to stand out in the competition.
Multi-Angle Camera Support
Users should be able to move their camera during live events, matches, & be able to view from any angle they want.
AI-Based Recommendations
You should include a strong engine powered by PyTorch or TensorFlow. So, it will automatically generate suggestions based on user needs.
Geo-restriction & Licensing Control
This feature is important as it will show the content based on your region and restrict content outside your region.
AR Replays
Use AR so that users can replay or record past scenes or fight moves from alternate angles.
Also Read: Developing Sports Betting App Like William Hill-Cost & Key Features
Tech Stack Needed to Develop a Sports Streaming App
Before you make an app like DAZN, it is important that you know what tech stack is needed to develop a sports streaming app in 2025.
1. Frontend Technologies
- For Native: Kotlin (Android), Swift (iOS)
- For Cross-Platform: React Native & Flutter, for quick rollout across devices.
2. Database & Storage
- Cloud Storage: Google Cloud Storage for video hosting, & Amazon S3
- Databases: MongoDB for organized and unorganized data, & PostgreSQL
3. Streaming Infrastructure
- Protocols: RTMP for ingestion, & HLS/DASH for delivery
- CDN Integration: Akamai & Cloudflare for quick content delivery
- Live Streaming Servers: Wowza, AWS MediaLive, & MUX
4. Third-Party Integrations
- Notification Systems: OneSignal & Firebase Messaging
- Payment Options: PayPal, Razorpay, & Stripe
- User Support: Intercom & Zendesk integration
5. Backend Technologies
- Node.js, Django, or Ruby on Rails: For content handling, core logic, & session management
- APIs: RESTful for communication between backend and frontend
Cost to make an App like DAZN in 2025
The first thing that comes to mind is how much it will cost to create sports streaming app in 2025. So, the live sports app development cost will vary depending on the type of app you want, design, development team, post-maintenance support, & location. So, look at the table that will give you a rough idea about the cost estimation.
Development Stage | Anticipated Cost |
---|---|
App Development | $60,000 to $200,000 |
UI/UX Design | $10,000 to $25,000 |
Licensing & Legal | $15,000 to $50,000 |
Backend & Streaming Infrastructure | $30,000 to $100,000 |
Maintenance | $5,000 to $15,000 |
Steps to Make an app like DAZN: Watch Live Sports
In the digitalized world, live sport streaming apps like DAZN have changed how fans engage with their favorite games. If you want to make an app like DAZN, this blog will help you look at the important stages of mobile app development, AI app development that help to uplift your product. Whether you want to deploy a premium live sports app like DAZN or a fantasy app like Dream11, you should follow these steps.
1. Identify your Audience & Niche
The initial step in sports app development is to find your target audience & niche. Collaborate with a trusted mobile app development company to find out the gaps in the market. Is a unique league, sport, or regional users currently deprived? Also, hire skilled UI/UX designers to develop a user-first item. You should decide if your app focuses only on live sports or if it will cater to a particular niche, such as mobile-first young users. Leveraging AI development will help to customize content suggestions based on user behavior.
2. Secure Rights & develop significant Partnerships
After that, operate with an expert hybrid app development service to protect broadcasting rights. You may need to collaborate with broadcasters, sports leagues, or individual content generators. Also, engage with a live video streaming app development firm to integrate safe CNDs into your app. This will ensure a secure, smooth, & top-quality experience on every device.
3. UI/UX Design
At this step, your focus should be on providing an intuitive user interface that results in a seamless user experience. You should collaborate with professional on-demand app development solutions to include features like:
- Easy navigation & latest search functionality
- Customized suggestions (powered by AI)
- Real-time notifications & alerts for live matches, events
- By using Gen AI to automate personalized suggestions, content tagging, & user support.
- Social media merger to generate fan engagement
4. Focus on Scalability, Performance, & AI-based Features
Hire sports app developers, experts in custom app development, to ensure seamless streaming across different devices & networks. You should hire mobile app developers in Dubai to develop a scalable infrastructure that will expand with your customer base. Integrate AI-powdered adjustable streaming technologies that, by themselves, adjust video quality depending on bandwidth for the best watching experience.
5. Develop a Monetization Plan
This is an important step to make an app like DAZN is building a strong monetization plan. Showcase options such as:
- Pay-per-view events
- In-app purchases
- Subscription models
- Collaborate with Android app development solutions to execute safe payment gateways & subscription model systems.
- Look for in-app ads using AI algorithms for customization
6. Focus on Continuous Improvement
Once you follow all the steps mentioned, you should look for analytics & continuous improvement. Partner with your full-stack development team to implement strong user behavior-monitoring tools. This data will assist you:
- Refine the suggestion algorithms with AI development
- Know user preferences
- Operate with committed app developers who can quickly adapt to feedback, do regular updates, & look for ongoing innovation in the app by leveraging Gen AI to automate & optimize processes.
- Upgrade content delivery for engagement & retention
Read More: Sports Betting Software Development : A Complete Guide
Future Trends in Sports Streaming in 2025 & Beyond
-
AI Commentators
Machine learning-based commentary engines trained on skilled beaker.
-
5G/6G-Powered Mobile Streaming
There will be fast load times, ultra-HD video, & real-time data.
-
Group-Driven Experiences
Engaging polls, watch parties, & live fan chats.
-
Immersive AR/VR Stadiums
You can sit virtually outside at your favorite game.
-
NFT Integration
Purchase event passes or exclusive highlights as digital tokens.
Conclusion
Sports streaming apps showcase the future of how fans watch their favorite events or matches. DAZN has set a standard, but still there is a very big room for innovation, opportunities, & niche-based solutions.
Expert Tips:
- Invest fast in protecting rights and a strong backend.
- Begin with an MVP by focusing on one region or sport.
- Focus more on user experience as it makes the winners stand apart.
- Collaborate with professional developers & designers.
Therefore, you should try to find an expert mobile app development company like TechGropse, which has proven market experience to help you estimate and plan your budget smartly and efficiently.
FAQs
A subscription-based model with the option of pay-per-view events goes well with a DAZN-like live sports streaming app.
Organizations protect sports communication content rights by negotiating & obtaining them from sports firms through licensing agreements.
In 2025, live sports apps require looking at engaging features, quick response, customization, & social engagement.
5G & new codecs such as AV1, significantly enhance streaming performance by providing quick speeds, low latency, & better compression.
So, the choice of technology will depend on the complexity of your app. React, Angular for front-end, Node.js, Python for backend, & PostgreSQL for databases.
Customization in sports apps will increase user engagement by customizing content & experiences to user needs, making it more relevant & enjoyable.