Twitch partners with fan-led American football league

Social video platform Twitch has agreed a rights deal with the Fan Controlled Football League, an innovative new indoor American football league which is set to launch in the US next year.

The Associated Press news agency said Twitch has agreed a two-year deal with the FCFL, an eight-team league in which fans will call plays in real time during games by voting on a few choices.

FCFL chief executive Sohrob Farudi said the Amazon-owned esports specialist is the ideal partner for a venture which is supposed to feel like a video game brought to life.

The Twitch broadcasts will be produced by the IMG agency’s Original Content division. When fans watch the games on their desktops or phones through Twitch, they’ll be presented with an interactive video overlay that will enable them to make the swift decisions necessary to influence a live game.

The seven-a-side league will launch with eight teams. Fans will also have a role in choosing their teams’ players, coaches and general managers, along with their names and logos.