Eleven Sports In Facebook Tie-up
Eleven Sports has announced a deal with Facebook that will see the social media giant become the broadcaster’s free-to-air partner in the UK.
As part of the agreement, at least one match per week from both LaLiga and Serie A will be shown live and free of charge on Eleven Sports’ UK Facebook page. A selection of games from the other top-flight football leagues available on Eleven Sports will also be shown on Facebook across the season.
The move comes as Eleven prepares to launch its new UK service this week with coverage of the 2018 PGA Championships.
The first two rounds of golf’s final major of the year will also be shown live on the broadcaster’s Facebook channel.
Eleven says the deal with Facebook forms part of its open distribution strategy, already successfully deployed in other markets around the world.
In addition to Facebook and its online streaming platforms, the brand is also in discussions to bring its content to other major broadcast platforms in the UK and Ireland.
Eleven Sports group managing director Danny Menken explained: “By making Facebook our free-to-air partner, we are giving our leading content centre stage projection, opening it up to new and diverse audiences, and confirming again our innovative leadership in the global sports media industry.
“In all our global markets we want to be where the fans are. We aim to serve fan communities and develop interaction and engagement around our content, while ensuring we are always accessible and easy to reach. Our unique free-to-air partnership with Facebook helps us to do this as part of our fresh and contemporary approach to distribution.”
Facebook has been making its own moves into broadcast sport this year, following the high-profile appointment of former Eurosport chief Peter Hutton. The social media platform acquired its first live Premier League rights over the summer.
Commenting on its tie-up with Eleven, Rhys Beer, the brand’s live sports programming lead, EMEA, said: “We’re excited to build on our strong relationship Eleven Sports by becoming the free-to-air home in the UK and Ireland for a selection of its live broadcasts this season.
“This partnership reflects our commitment to helping broadcasters reach new audiences, build their brands and deliver a great viewing experience for sports fans on Facebook.”
