The Champions League is a popular football tournament that is watched by millions of people around the world. However, to watch it, you must be signed onto the various established cable TV channels that have signed massive contracts to broadcast this content.
However, we are also in an age where social networks like Facebook have global audiences in their billions. This means that they have potential to become an important centre for people to stream live football like Champions League matches.
That is what Facebook is aiming with the announcement that they are partnering with Fox Sports to show live Champions League matches in the US.
According to Bloomberg, Facebook will stream more than a dozen matches of the popular tournament, which will be a great boost to their Live Video system. It will include four quarterfinal matches, four round of 16 matches and two live matches per day in the group stage.
Under the deal, according to Variety, the Champions League matches will be streamed in the US on the Fox Sports Facebook page and also in Spanish on the Fox Deportes Facebook page starting September. Half of the matches will be in English and the other half in Spanish.
Apparently the UEFA Champions League Final generated 34 million engagements and 98 million interactions on Facebook. In addition, there was a Wayne Rooney charity match last year that was broadcasted live on Facebook which drew 3.7 million viewers so the potential is there.
Well this is an interesting move by Facebook and Fox Sports and it shows that Facebook is serious in the quest to become the centre for sporting events that are happening around the world.
