FIFA has launched a new OTT platform named FIFA+, which will provide free live fixtures from competitions around the globe along with several documentaries. This platform will feature all the football World Cup matches ever recorded including the archives along with covering the Women’s Football. This is an ambitious step taken by FIFA to popularise the sport but for the entity, this is a big step as they are about to jump from being just a football association to being in the same waters with other OTT platforms such as Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar and many more.
FIFA’s primary source of revenue is television broadcast rights to the men’s World Cup, and as of now they aren’t planning to charge for the content on FIFA+ but the enterprise does expect to achieve revenue from advertising as this platform is advertiser-funded.
“This project represents a cultural shift in the way different types of football fans want to connect with and explore the global game,” says FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
“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,” stated FIFA during a press release.
“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.”
A feature-length documentary on former Brazil and Barcelona midfielder, Ronaldinho was released by the global governing body of the sport along with the launch of the service.
The intriguing launch also unveiled an ‘all access’ series of six 30 minute shows, which will feature the Brazil defender Dani Alves. The show will be helmed by his own production house Maracana Media.
The streaming platform will also consist of a docuseries ‘Icons’ that highlights five women’s players. The eight-part series named ‘Captain’ will focus on top national team captains going into the World Cup.
Among the production companies who have made content for FIFA+ are Fulwell 73, Gary Lineker’s Goalhanger Productions and Noah Media Group.
“It is free and the intention is it’s free forever. There is no plan to charge a subscription fee for the service,” says Charlotte Burr, FIFA+ Project Lead.
“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+.”