Seattle Sounders have become the latest Major League Soccer franchise to strike a rights deal with YouTube TV, the cable-free live television service of video-sharing company YouTube.
The multi-year deal sees YouTube TV become the official live television streaming home of the Sounders.
YouTube TV is set to stream all Sounders matches in 2018, including exclusive streaming rights to the club’s 21 regionally televised contests on a dedicated YouTube TV channel. YouTube TV members will also be able to watch Seattle’s 13 nationally televised contests on ESPN, Fox and Fox Sports 1.
“Seattle is a city of innovation and Sounders FC has always strived to contribute to the creative culture of our hometown, bringing the best and most forward-thinking elements to our fans,” Sounders chief operating officer Bart Wiley said.
“With the addition of YouTube TV into our viewing arsenal, Sounders fans now have an exciting and creative option for following their team, complementing our traditional broadcast channels.”
The deal comes after MLS expansion franchise Los Angeles Football Club in January signed a landmark media rights and jersey sponsorship deal with YouTube TV.
Under the multi-year partnership, which will commence when LAFC makes its MLS debut against the Sounders on March 4, YouTube TV will serve as the official live television partner and official video partner of the team, becoming the exclusive home to watch all locally televised English-language LAFC matches. YouTube TV will also carry all nationally televised LAFC matches on ESPN, Fox and FS1.
The landmark deal will also see the YouTube TV logo prominently displayed on the LAFC jersey. At the time, the club hailed the agreement as the first partnership of its kind in North American professional sports where all locally televised matches are on a live television streaming provider.
Meanwhile, the Sounders have confirmed their regional broadcast details for the 2018 MLS season, spearheaded by a renewed multi-year agreement with Q13 Fox and JOEtv.
The renewed partnership continues the tenure of Q13 Fox and JOEtv as the regional television home of the team throughout Western Washington. New in 2018, JOEtv is set to become the dedicated home of the Sounders for all regional broadcasts.
In addition to televising all home and away Sounders matches to in-market fans, JOEtv continues to provide both a 30-minute pre-match show and 30-minute post-match wrap-up following each game.
Q13 Fox is also airing two feature-length Sounders FC specials during the 2018 season, in addition to profiling the team during the weekly ‘Q It Up’ programme each Friday throughout the year, shown on both Q13 Fox and JOE TV.
Of the club’s 34 MLS regular season matches, 21 are being carried on JOEtv throughout Western Washington.