Ken Carman is challenging the Cleveland Cavaliers over their television arrangement, warning that the cost of following the team could push fans away as the regular season begins.
The 92.3 The Fan host criticized the accessibility of Cavs games in a segment the station shared Thursday morning.
“How am I supposed to sit here and talk about the Cavs when nobody’s going to watch them?”
➡️ @KenCarman w/ @SportsBoyTony on why the #Cavs need to make their games more accessible to local fans. pic.twitter.com/Y0flYzPbvo
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) October 22, 2026
“How am I supposed to sit here and talk about the Cavs when nobody’s going to watch them?” Carman said.
His concern extends beyond his own subscription. Carman said he would pay to watch but questioned whether enough fans would do the same.
“It’s bad for the fanbase,” Carman said.
That is the business risk behind his criticism: A dedicated viewer may buy another package, while someone who previously watched out of habit may decide to follow less closely.
Carman’s comments raise that possibility; they do not establish that the Cavs have already lost viewers.
What Cavs fans pay to watch on DAZN
The Cavs’ official broadcast page lists four DAZN options for local viewers, with a lower-priced standard tier and an Ultimate tier offering more simultaneous streams.
| Plan | Listed price | Simultaneous streams |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Pass | $19.99 per month | Two at one location |
| Monthly Pass Ultimate | $24.99 per month | Five at two locations |
| Season Pass | $119.99 per season | Two at one location |
| Season Pass Ultimate | $139.99 per season | Five at two locations |
For someone planning to subscribe throughout the season, the billing choice matters. Six payments at the standard monthly rate total $119.94, just five cents below the standard season pass. A seventh payment brings that total to $139.93.
The larger issue is what the purchase covers. DAZN carries the Cavs’ locally available games, but the package excludes games selected for exclusive national broadcasts. Buying the season pass therefore does not provide every game through one subscription.
Cleveland’s 2026-27 schedule illustrates that split: The Oct. 22 opener at Philadelphia is listed on ESPN, the Nov. 2 game against Oklahoma City on Peacock and the Nov. 6 Philadelphia matchup on Prime Video.
Fans comparing plans need to account for the national services they already have, as well as the local package.
A cheaper monthly option can suit an occasional viewer, while a season pass can become the less expensive choice for someone paying month after month.
The Cavs’ deal includes 15 free games
The arrangement does not put every local game behind a subscription. In their September partnership announcement, the Cavs and DAZN committed to making 15 games available free and providing complimentary subscriptions to full-season and half-season Cavs United and Foundation members.
The organization also pitched the deal as a production upgrade, with Rock Entertainment Sports Network handling broadcasts in-house and an expanded 19-camera setup.
Nic Barlage, CEO of Rock Entertainment Group, the Cavaliers and Rocket Arena, described the goal as “simplifying how fans connect to Cavaliers basketball”
Those improvements address the experience offered to people who tune in. Carman’s criticism concerns whether fans will make the additional purchase required to watch more of the schedule.
The free games offer a way to follow part of the season without buying the local package. They do not eliminate the decision facing fans who want the rest of the locally streamed games, and the national-broadcast exclusions mean even paying customers must check where each matchup is airing.
