US media group Time has teamed up with several major sports leagues to announce the launch of a new live streaming service.
The venture, 120 Sports, will provide game footage, analysis and social commentary of several sports for mobile, tablet and online platforms.
Ice hockey’s NHL, basketball’s NBA, Major League Baseball’s MLB.com website, the Nascar motor-racing series and Campus Insiders – a joint venture between the IMG College division of the IMG agency and digital sports media company Silver Chalice – will be 120 Sports’ initial content partners.
The service will initially launch for free through 120Sports.com and other distribution platforms, with a premium content version to be introduced next year.
The MLB Advanced Media division of MLB will provide the technology infrastructure as part of its deal to become an equity investor in the venture.
“This is the right time to collaborate across the infrastructure of sports properties as we take the collective assets of each partner directly to fans on their favourite devices,” Bob Bowman, president and chief executive of MLB Advanced Media, said. “Building a venture of this magnitude could only succeed with the right group of sports and news organisations and in the 120 Sports launch partners we have a product that will deliver on its promise to fans.”