Facebook has already ordered a scripted drama series from Ronaldo's newly launched studiogetty images
Facebook Watch is "in discussions for what could be its biggest original series deal to date" -- a reality show about Cristiano Ronaldo, according to sources cited by Spangler & Wallenstein of VARIETY. Facebook is "prepped to invest substantial coin in the project." Sources said that Ronaldo "could get a paycheck" of around $10M for the 13-episode show. CAA is "packaging the series, to be produced by Matador Content and Religion of Sports." Ronaldo is the "most popular athlete on Facebook -- he has more than 120 million followers for his official page." He also is "already in business with Facebook," as the social media platform "ordered a scripted drama series" from Ronaldo and former ABC Entertainment Group President Paul Lee’s newly launched studio, Wiip. The Ronaldo docu-series "would be the most aggressive bet so far to acquire high-profile content with worldwide appeal" by the team led by Facebook Head of Global Creative Strategy Ricky Van Veen (VARIETY.com, 7/5).
MASS APPEAL: CNBC's Wilfred Frost said of Facebook, “As they push to do more TV and more direct video of their own, starting with someone with 120 million followers is a great way to do it.” CNBC’s Michelle Caruso-Cabrera said, “What do you think about $10 million? He gets endorsements, remember the Calvin Klein ads he did? I remember those very well, and I’m sure he got paid a lot of money for that.” Frost: “He's paid a fortune, so I agree, I don’t think $10 million is that much to him. But I think he also has elements of vanity and therefore he might like a reality show about himself” (“Closing Bell,” CNBC, 7/5).
EXPANDING REACH: In London, Matt Hughes notes the EPL has agreed to its "first broadcast deal with Facebook," with the social media company "winning exclusive rights to show live matches in large parts for Asia" starting in '19. Facebook is "understood to have beaten BeIn Sports and Fox Sports Asia in the auction to gain live broadcast rights in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos" from '19-22 in a deal worth about US$264M. Facebook "will live stream all 380" EPL matches per season, marking its "biggest and most high-profile sports offering to date." This follows Amazon’s "breakthrough deal in the U.K. last month in which it gained the right to show 20 live matches per season." It is the "latest indication" of the EPL's "determination to appeal to streaming services as well as traditional broadcasters" (THETIMES.co.uk, 7/5).
