Live streaming deals between sports properties and social media platforms have been rife this past year, with everyone from Twitter, Facebook, YouTube (and even Amazon) all clamoring for a piece. The notable sports property exception had been MLS.
But now in a three way deal brokered between Facebook, Univision and MLS, a full slate of regular season matches – at least 22 of them – are to be streamed on the Facebook Live platform over the course of the next 9 months.
This is not a completely new partnership.
MLS and Facebook have collaborated before, hosting their annual State of the League address on the platform last year, as well as unique content around signature events including the MLS All-Star Game, Decision Day, and MLS Cup.