Sports fans use Twitter for numerous reasons: instantaneous updates, communicating with fellow supporters and voicing frustration or jubilation about their team’s performance. But now, they can use Twitter for more than just information and communication.
It was announced this week that Twitter would partner with Pac-12 Plus, a broadband network that will live stream events from each of the 12 schools in the conference. The agreement will bring at least 150 games through Twitter during the 2016-2017 school year. The new arrangement will cover sports that you can find during the Olympic games such as soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, baseball, ice hockey, swimming & diving, softball, track & field, wrestling, lacrosse, tennis, and water polo, with more to be possibly added to the schedule later. While it, as of now, doesn’t include any football games, it’s a huge step for live streaming in college sports and a clear continued business focus for Twitter.
“The Pac-12 Networks’ collaboration with Twitter reflects our ongoing commitment to increasing exposure for Pac-12 universities and their live, school-produced events. By expanding our digital footprint, Pac-12 Plus also allows us to connect more fans with more, live Pac-12 sports content through a platform they use every day,” said Pac-12 Networks President Lydia Murphy-Stephans.
Twitter has recently dived into the live streaming market by also finding deals with Bloomberg TV and the NFL. Their deal with the NFL will give them the opportunity to live stream ten Thursday Night Football games during the 2016-2017 season for the price of $10 million. As a practice run, Twitter streamed Wimbledon to give viewers a glance at what it will be like to watch through the social media platform.
It’s been mentioned that Twitter is also currently talking with organizations like the NBA, Major League Soccer and cable television company Turner about earning the rights to digitally stream even more live sports and events, so it seems like these recent deals are only just the beginning.
