Rugby League Commercial (RLC), the body established to address the future of the sport in England, has partnered with Endeavor Streaming to launch a new OTT platform covering the top-tier Super League.
The unveiling of SuperLeague+ today comes following the tie-up struck between RLC and the IMG sports marketing heavyweight in mid-2022, with Endeavor Streaming under the same overall Endeavor banner as IMG.
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SuperLeague+ will cover all 167 matches from the 12-team 2024 Super League live season in overseas markets, starting with the season opener on February 15.
In the UK, meanwhile, customers will be able to watch 106 games live on the service, while the other 61 will be shown via delayed coverage and on-demand. In the UK, live coverage will begin on February 16 as St Helens take on London Broncos and Leigh Leopards face Huddersfield Giants.
The league’s latest domestic coverage deal with pay-TV heavyweight Sky Sports, announced in mid-October, while giving Sky rights to every single game of the competition in 2024, also allowed RLC to retain the ability to distribute the league across other platforms, including free-to-air broadcast opportunities and a dedicated streaming platform.
Aside from match coverage, SuperLeague+ will feature highlights, archive footage, sections dedicated to each of the dozen clubs, and various original programming features.
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By GlobalDataSuperLeague+ will be hosted on the end-to-end streaming solution run by Endeavor Streaming, Vesper, and will offer enhanced features such as multi-view to fans, IMG has said.
The site will be available online, via the SuperLeague+ mobile app, and Apple TV, Fire TV, and Android TV.
The cost of the service will be £129.99 with an annual pass, £19.99 for a monthly pass, or £6.99 to watch a specific fixture.
The Super League joins the existing stable of sports properties and leagues to have worked with Endeavor Streaming, including soccer’s UEFA, EFL, and NWSL, World Rugby and New Zealand Rugby, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the National Basketball Association, and World Wrestling Entertainment.
Peter Bellamy, Endeavor Streaming's chief commercial officer, said: “For the first time, Betfred Super League fans around the world can watch live coverage of their favorite teams from one destination. With our world-class streaming technology and fan engagement expertise, we’re able to help the sport expand its international reach and connect directly with its global fanbase to drive even deeper engagement.”
Rhodri Jones, managing director of Rugby League Commercial, added: “The launch of SuperLeague+ marks the start of a new era for the Super League and for UK Rugby League.
"Thanks to the deal agreed with Sky Sports last year, all six matches in each of the 27 weekly rounds of the men’s Super League through the 2024 season – a total of 162 games – will be broadcast on a variety of platforms. Sky Sports will retain exclusive live coverage of two fixtures in each round and our new OTT platform, SuperLeague+, will offer live coverage of the remaining matches.
“This live coverage of more than 100 weekly-round fixtures will be augmented by on-demand, delayed coverage of Sky’s selections for fans in the British Isles. Meanwhile, SuperLeague+ will offer live coverage of all matches in every round for international subscribers.”
RLC was formed in May 2022, and became fully operational in January last year, as part of the commercial realignment and redevelopment of the sport in England – a process in which IMG was integral.
The Rugby Football League and the Super League partnered with the agency heavyweight in mid-2022.
Earlier this month, RLC and IMG unveiled a partnership with fantasy game developer Voono.
The tie-up will see the two parties collaborate to launch a free-to-play fantasy Super League game. It is scheduled to go live early next month ahead of the 2024 campaign getting underway.
