D.C. United terminated its local rights contract with streaming service FloSports less than one year into a deal that was expected to last four years. The deal ended just three days before D.C. United’s regular-season finale. Instead, Sunday’s home match against F.C. Cincinnati streamed for free on D.C. United’s website.
FloSports had signed a local streaming deal with D.C United in January that was worth $12 million over four years according to the Washington Post. But many United fans soon voiced displeasure about having to pay to watch local games on an internet service rather than on TV.
According to the Post, fans who gathered at bars in the D.C area that were authorized to show FloSports broadcasts often complained about the feed and production quality. The first game of United’s season that streamed on FloSports was also met with geo-location issues that left some local fans unable to access the live stream.
FloSports still currently has a multi-year streaming partnership with F.C. Cincinnati, signed in March. In May, FloSports CEO Mark Floreani told SportTechie that his company was in talks with the league’s other 22 teams about securing their broadcast rights, and even national MLS rights. “I’ve told the MLS when their deal comes up I want it,” he said. “We’re continuing to go up the food chain in terms of soccer rights.”
