FIFA introduces new streaming platform for documentaries, live games

FIFA has introduced a new streaming service, FIFA+, that will provide free live streaming of all games along with ‘Netflix-style’ documentaries.

The new platform will have an archive of every past world cup match that was ever recorded on camera.

“This project represents a cultural shift in the way different types of football fans want to connect with and explore the global game,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

The service will be launched with its first documentary on former Brazil and Barcelona midfielder Ronaldinho and some other films. These will be under the category of ‘FIFA Orignals’.

The live games will be geo-blocked to ensure that the service does not compete with existing competition rights holders. The matches will be stored, and highlights packages will be available.

“By the end of 2022, FIFA+ will be streaming the equivalent of 40,000 live games per year from 100 Member Associations across all six confederations, including 11,000 women’s matches,” FIFA said in a statement.

“FIFA+ offers live coverage from Europe’s topflight leagues to previously unserved competitions from around the world in men’s, women’s and youth football. From launch, 1,400 matches will be live-streamed monthly on FIFA+, rising rapidly.”

Currently, FIFA’s main source of income is TV broadcast rights of the men’s World Cup, but they are not planning to charge for anything on the new service. The organization expects to earn its revenue from advertising for the time being.

“There will be video advertising, pre-roll advertising, there will be banner advertising. There will also be opportunities to co-produce branded content, for example, and plenty of other activation opportunities for partners. That is effectively the monetization story of the platform,” said Charlotte Burr, FIFA+ Project Lead told reporters in a conference call.

Burr added that the organization has no intentions to charge the viewers for the content.

“It is free and the intention is it’s free forever. There is no plan to charge a subscription fee for the service,” she said.

“That doesn’t mean to say that we may not evolve over time should there be a value proposition that allows us to charge subscription if we step into premium rights or adopt other kind of models. But there will always be a free experience on FIFA+.”

An ‘all access’ series of six 30-minute episodes featuring Brazil defender Dani Alves, created by his own production business Maracana Media, is also part of the launch.

The docuseries ‘Icons’ highlights five female athletes, while Captains is an eight-part series that looks at top national team captains as the World Cup approaches.

Fulwell 73, Gary Lineker’s Goalhanger Productions, and Noah Media Group are among the production businesses that have created material for FIFA+.