Doyel: Pacers' streaming deal with DAZN is amazing. Who says no? Oh. Everybody says no

Some stories you know will take off, generating so much reader response that my text message group here with IndyStar readers will overheat. History – 12 years on this job – tells me that. Any time I write about the Indiana Fever, for example. Or about Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson. Just one of those things you know will happen, before it happens.

Other stories, you know will take off – not from the topic’s ubiquity, but its uniqueness. A column on Warren Central two-sport athlete-turned-broadcast journalist Michael Grady, who scraped and hustled his way to the top of this media market and is now doing the same nationally with the WNBA, NBA and NFL? That column is going to take off. People love reading about a local who’s made it big.

And then there are stories like the Indiana Pacers coming to terms with DAZN on a deal that guarantees Pacers fans access to games on local TV and guarantees the streaming experience – a problem for Pacers games since 2021 – will be of the highest quality.

That column? You write it, because it’s important, but you figure it won’t generate a huge response. The column is obvious and happy, and readers would rather complain about Fever trolls or Colts QB’s or whatever. Some things, you just know.

But sometimes you’re wrong.

Pacers fans are mad about the deal with DAZN? Knock me over with a feather, and not of those big ostrich things that could double as a lead pipe. A hummingbird’s feather. Hit me with it. Watch me fall over in shock.

Because I think the DAZN deal is awesome.

Then again, I’m in one of those businesses that had to evolve – didn’t want to evolve, but had to evolve – because of the way people are now consuming information. Used to be, everyone subscribed to the newspaper, the printed copy, because that’s how it was.

Newspapers remain the best show in town – the IndyStar does, for sure – for getting to the bottom of the widest range of local issues: sports, politics, schools, crime, entertainment, more. But readers have more choices than ever, and some have gone in other directions. Many don’t even read anymore, and we have the country to show for it. Don’t get me started…

Anyway, it’s the same thing with how we watch TV. Cable used to be the No. 1 way to watch TV. Now, cable TV is like Vanderbilt or Arizona State football: among others receiving votes. Check out this quote from my aforementioned column on the Pacers’ deal with DAZN:

“In 2010, the peak of cable TV, 88% of the market had access to paid – i.e. cable or satellite – TV. Today, that number would be around 30%.”

Which means the Pacers had to partner with a streaming service to broadcast their games locally – and they partnered with one of the best of the best streamers of sports content. DAZN is that big, that good internationally. Now it’s coming to the USA with authority, and we can watch the Pacers’ entire 2026-27 NBA season on DAZN for $59.99?

This is great news, I know. Readers will agree, I believed.

Sometimes you’re wrong.

Doyel: Indiana Pacers, DAZN a match made in streaming, cord-cutting TV heaven

From: Allan S.

With all due respect Gregg, h*ll will freeze over before I watch any sport on a streaming network.

I’ll mark you down as unconvinced.

From: Chris S.

So the Pacers are fine with having fans pay a luxury tax to watch – but they won't pay a luxury tax for the roster?

What’s going on here? I don’t understand.

From: Ed W.

Another $60 to watch TV. Being 75, retired, with utility costs going up … I think I'm going to pass, Gregg.

This, I understand.

From: Philip H.

I never had problems accessing the Bally Sports Indiana/FanDuel broadcasts as an Xfinity subscriber. The Pacers move to DAZN doesn't provide anything else that I was getting. For anyone in this position, it's hard to see this as positive.

You’re in the minority – only 30% still have cable TV, and that number shrinks annually – but this I understand as well.

From: Ron G.

I guess we'll have different views. What is happening is that – at age 74 and on a FIXED INCOME – I am slowly but surely being priced out of TV viewership altogether. I love streaming TV, but to get "live TV" I pay a premium above the regular internet bill, which amounts to about $80 more. I was a long-time Cincinnati Reds fans, and that’s what, $99 more a year? I refused to pay.

And the price on these things keeps going up! To keep things even slightly affordable, I alternate between Netflix, MAX, Paramount, Peacock and AppleTV (all of which now carry a certain amount of sports that used to be on local stations).

Now the Pacers want $60? No way, especially since I also love newspapers and I pay for the IndyStar, NYTimes, WaPo and my local newspaper.

While the Pacers’ deal with DAZN is a clear streaming upgrade recent years, it’s not ideal. I hear you loud and clear, but this is where we are, today: No perfect answer, nothing ideal for all parties involved. Companies make the best decisions they can, and the market will decide.

Terrifying time for media companies, to be honest.

Thank you for your final sentence, Ron.

One more note…

From: Michael M.

This is bull(crud). I’m a 35-year season ticket-holder on social security limited income.

I give DirecTV $300 a month, and if it's not on there I'm not chasing it. My knowledge of streaming is next to none, and I’m not willing to learn or change my equipment to accommodate the Pacers. After my seat-row relocation, this is just another nail in the coffin.

I understand. You sound like my mom. And I loved my mom so much.

This was one of the most enjoyable columns I’ve written in a long, long time … so enjoyable, my budget for the week was full but I wrote it anyway because I like the topic – I like Grady – that much.

Only issue: Grady talks better than I write. Do I just quote him for 2,000 words? Or save his best quotes for the perfect moment, like his world-famous “Dearly beloved!” call that nearly broke the internet a few years ago?

I went for the latter. And Grady’s “dearly beloved” story is in the column.

Doyel:Behind the rise to sports TV stardom of Indianapolis' Michael Grady

From: Christopher W.

I did high school radio with Mike Grady at Warren Central and enjoy his success so much. He completely had a motor even back then, and I'm not the least bit surprised.

Motor, million-dollar voice, brilliant brain, humility … Grady’s the whole package.

From: Todd A.

So interesting, I didn't want the column to end.

Thank you Todd! (Not printing this one.) He’s going places, but he’ll always be our Grady. And he’s good with that.

My story after the Colts’ first preseason game: Anthony Richardson had one of those games where he looks like a potential NFL quarterback.

My story after the Colts’ second preseason game: Neither Richardson nor Riley Leonard look like a potential NFL quarterback. And don’t get me started on the depth in the secondary.

Sometimes, everyone agrees.

Doyel: Who's Colts backup QB, Riley Leonard or Anthony Richardson? Neither.

From: Fred W.

I would hate to see Anthony Richardson ultimately leave the NFL without having achieved any success. My question is: Have the Colts ever mulled over the possibility of converting him to running back?

My guess: They’ve never asked because they know he’d never agree. But Richardson is nearing the point in his career – trending toward being out of the league in a year – that he might need to consider it.

From: Brian M.

Unless Danny Dimes (aka Colts QB Daniel Jones) puts on a cape and plays like prime Peyton Manning, there's gonna be wholesale housecleaning on South Capitol Avenue – and GM Chris Ballard will be the first swept over the threshold.

If this season goes south, the 2027 Indianapolis Colts will be unrecognizable – from the top down.

From: John C.

Season-ticket holders like myself who are forced to pay for these games, are … well, you fill in the blank. No, I didn't go. I live nine hours away. I couldn't even get $40 for both of these preseason games.

NFL preseason games literally, and I’m being serious, put me in a bad mood. Like, what am I doing here? Better put this exchange under “not printing these…”

How hard is it to write about Kelsey Mitchell, in a season where she’s breaking Fever and WNBA scoring records and earning a spot in the MVP consideration? Some games, even when she scores 28 points on near-perfect shooting, it’s impossible.

As I described in my belated column about, yes, Kelsey Mitchell.

Doyel: Fever star Kelsey Mitchell having best possible season at worst possible time

From: David S.

What a column, Gregg – and despite my earlier regret about the attention Micah Beckworth stole from Kelsey through that Stephanie White pregame presser, in a way the timing helped your column make its point. Using it the way you did in your writing was brilliant.

Oops. Looks like I put this under the wrong subhed. This one also belongs under “not printing these.” Because I’m humble like Grady!

From: Larry J.

Kelsey is truly a beautiful person, not just a talented, hardworking and gifted basketball player. Sounds like her "content of character" is comparable to Tamika Catchings. Hope she wins the WNBA MVP.

Amen brother.

Doyel:Micah Beckwith causes breaking point for Stephanie White – and turning point for WNBA?

IndyStar on your phone:Get a personalized reading experience in the Indianapolis Star app

From: John C.

Only you could infuse humor into this NFL preseason fiasco.

I’m nothing like Grady. Sigh.

More:Join the text conversation with sports columnist Gregg Doyel for insights, reader questions and Doyel's peeks behind the curtain.

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Doyel: Pacers' streaming deal with DAZN is amazing. Who says no? Oh. Everybody says no