The premier Italian football league system, Serie A has announced a new content partnership with Minute Media, a leading digital media company.
This deal signifies the latest move by a major European soccer league to target the growing North American market.
The partnership aims to boost the Italia top-flight league’s visibility and engagement with fans across the United States and Canada. The digital media company, which boasts a vast audience of 60 million daily users, will leverage its popular sports content brands, including 90min, a platform dedicated to soccer news, to create a dedicated hub for Serie A. This hub will feature licensed highlights, behind-the-scenes content like training sessions and press conferences, and even watch party integrations.
The strategic alliance goes beyond just showcasing on-field action. Minute Media will also tap into The Players’ Tribune, another brand under its umbrella, to share player stories and human-interest pieces. This approach aims to create a more well-rounded experience for North American fans, fostering a deeper connection with the league and its athletes.
Andy Mitchell, Chief Executive of Serie A USA, said, “Partnering with Minute Media offers us massive scale to reach soccer fans and grow the league in North America. Showcasing the top players from the North American region excelling in Italy, the quality of play, and the unique football/soccer culture on a scaled platform is a great opportunity.”
Andres Cardenas, Minute Media, Chief Marketing Officer, added, “This partnership marks the beginning of an innovative offering for Serie A fans in North America as they seek more content from the players and teams they love. With a record number of US national team players finding a home in Italy and as interest in football continues to spike across North America, we are proud and excited to be named an official content partner of Serie A in the United States and look forward to bringing Serie A’s historic and exciting match content to a wider fan base.”
Minute Media, a global sports and culture company founded in Israel (2011), leverages technology to create, share, and profit from short-form digital content. The digital media company owns popular sports publications like The Players’ Tribune, FanSided, 90min and STN Video, and provides tools for athletes and leagues to create content. Reaching millions of users, Minute Media operates in 14 markets and 10 languages.
Additionally, Serie A recently announced the British free-to-air public broadcast television network, ITV, which will broadcast matches live for free until the end of the season, further demonstrating its commitment to expanding its viewership demographic.
Serie A joins a growing trend of European leagues actively seeking to establish a stronghold in the North American soccer market. The region’s interest in the sport has been on the rise, fueled by the arrival of global stars like Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the upcoming Copa America 2024, set to be hosted by the USA, and the FIFA World Cup 2026, slated to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.