Customers can watch regionally televised games if they live in the greater Puget Sound metro areaGETTY IMAGES
YouTube has "struck a multi-year agreement" to stream regional Sounders matches, adding "more live sports to its YouTube TV subscription service," according to Dawn Chmielewski of DEADLINE.com. YouTube "won the exclusive rights to stream the club’s 20 regionally televised contests on a dedicated Sounders FC YouTube TV channel." YouTube TV customers "will be able to watch regionally televised Sounders games if they live in the greater Puget Sound metro area." The agreement marks the "second such deal for YouTube," which last month signed a deal with LAFC (DEADLINE.com, 2/28). The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Natalie Jarvey noted exclusive live sports is a "crucial way for YouTube TV to differentiate itself from the half-dozen other skinny TV bundles that have launched in recent years." With the Sounders and LAFC deals, YouTube is "establishing itself as a home for live MLS matches" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 2/28). ENGADGET's Jon Fingas wrote the deal "isn't necessarily a tremendous coup for YouTube given MLS' relatively modest viewership compared to other American sports leagues." The Sounders are "generally considered one of the best-known teams in the league, though, so it's bound to command some attention." This illustrates "how YouTube TV's growth is influencing its ability to make deals" (ENGADGET.com, 2/28).
