Twitter stopped streaming NFL games two years ago, but it "remains tight with the league," as evidenced by its new deal announced yesterday, according to Mariella Moon of ENGADGET. Twitter unveiled its "expanded lineup of both live programming and on-demand video content" with the league, which includes "six new live NFL shows." The shows are "specifically created for audiences on Twitter and will revolve around the biggest football events, such as the NFL Kickoff, the Thanksgiving games and the Super Bowl" (ENGADGET.com, 4/30). In addition to the NFL, Twitter announced an extension with MLS, and VARIETY's Todd Spangler notes the deals "build on Twitter partnerships it has already announced" in '19, including with the NBA, MLB, PGA Tour, Fox Sports, Bill Simmons’ The Ringer and the Drone Racing League (VARIETY.com, 4/30). AXIOS' Sara Fischer noted the moves come amid a "shift among social media companies to create brand-safe video destinations on their platforms for advertisers." For Twitter, the focus "will be on quality and curation much more than it will be on scale." As a result, it will "not stream as many shows and videos as a platform like Facebook does, and the videos it will showcase will be targeted to a very specific audience that it knows wants them" (AXIOS.com, 4/29).
HIGHLIGHT REEL: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Marisa Guthrie noted Twitter has "ordered a second season" of Bleacher Report's "House of Highlights Show." The second season will "emphasize live events; it will roll out in conjunction with tentpole events possibly including NBA All Star Weekend, the NBA Finals, March Madness, the UEFA Champions League Finals and even the Super Bowl" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 4/29).
