Football-focused media company Dugout has entered the over-the-top streaming market for the first time after agreeing a deal with the Fanatiz streaming platform.
Under the agreement, Dugout’s live, behind-the-scenes and archive footage will be offered to Fanatiz’s audience throughout North, South and Latin America via its embed player.
The recently-launched Dugout Live streaming service will provide Fanatiz with content from leading football clubs on desktops, mobiles and on Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV.
Since launching in 2016, Fanatiz has built up a rights portfolio consisting of LaLiga, Superliga Argentina, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana and Copa Argentina, among others, and has recently acquired rights to Brasileirão – the top division of Brazilian football.
LaLiga North America this week signed a multi-faceted sponsorship and content partnership with Fanatiz.
Founded by 10 of the world’s biggest football teams – AC Milan, Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid – Dugout has since partnered with more than 100 clubs, and reaches 85 million average monthly users via 10 languages in 190 countries.
The Fanatiz deal continues Dugout’s recent growth acceleration in the Americas following agreements with a host of the region’s largest media publishers and clubs including Sports Illustrated, Mexican Liga MX team Tigres UANL, Brazilian Serie A club Flamengo, as well as ties with MLS and NWSL.
Dugout co-founder and chairman, Elliot Richardson, said: “Signing our first OTT partner is a landmark moment for Dugout and its embed player, as this represents a unique opportunity to deliver international football content via the Dugout’s VOD and Live product.
“We have seen substantial interest in all of our products over recent months and driving growth to gain a foothold in the OTT market will be a key strategic focus ahead of the new season starting.”
Fanatiz founder and chief executive, Matias Rivera, added: “This partnership will enable us to substantially grow our content offering and we look forward to working together to offer a new dimension to our OTT platform through new live streaming opportunities.”
Rivera is part of the board at Global Sports Rights Management, the agency that recently acquired the international rights to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and Série B. As it continues negotiations with broadcasters worldwide, GSRM has turned to Fanatiz to stream coverage of the Brazilian leagues internationally.