Real Madrid have launched a brand new streaming channel specifically targeting the North American market.
The Spanish club, who have been hit hard financially as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, have expanded their Real Madrid TV service, which is free to air in Spain, to focus on the American and Canadian markets to try and tap into the growing popularity of the European game in the region.
The move will help Real maintain their strong presence in North America as they aim to stave off the increasing threat from Premier League clubs like Liverpool that have already cultivated stronger ties through US ownership and crossovers in ownership of American sporting teams.
According to 2020 survey data, allied with Google Trends and Facebook advertising reach, Gilt Edged Soccer placed Real Madrid as the second most popular European football team in the US, behind rivals Barcelona and just ahead of Manchester United in third and Liverpool in fourth.
The channel, which will be available to linear, on demand connected devices and the web, will feature up to three matches per week on delay, plus classic programming, exclusive club insight, breaking news as part of an offering of more than 8,000 hours of content that will also include live press conferences, exclusive interviews, live training sessions, classic matches, magazine shows, Real Madrid news programming, and special features.
The club has partnered with US-based Cinedigm to provide the service.
Erick Opeka, Cinedigm digital networks president, said: "Soccer is the most popular sport in the world with an extreme level of fandom.
"Partnering with Real Madrid and giving this global club an exclusive home to many of the biggest OTT distribution partners in North America, will allow viewers to experience never before released content in the United States.
"Fans will feel like they are part of all the action with interviews, matches and news they can’t get anywhere else, and content will be refreshed weekly to keep fans engaged."
Liverpool have had LFC TV in place since it was launched in 2007, the channel available in HD through Sky and Virgin Media as well as Foxtel in Australia and through the club's official website for fans from other territories.
Enhancing the reach of the club through its own media channels is something that chimes with what owners Fenway Sports Group and partners RedBird Capital Partners had in mind when the two joined forces in a $750m deal that saw RedBird take 11 per cent of the overall FSG business back in March.
RedBird and founder Gerry Cardinale have a proven track record of making the most of such opportunity having had great success with the YES Network in the US, a regional cable channel that shows games and content relating to the major sports teams based in the New York area, including the hugely popular New York Yankees baseball team.
Do you want an exclusive pre-season Liverpool preview - both in your inbox and through your letterbox? Head over here to find out more and secure your copy.
