In a bid to tap into the sport market, popular social media giant Facebook on Wednesday 15th, 2018 announced that it will be broadcasting the UEFA Champions League matches in Latin America from 2018 - 2021 seasons.
"UEFA is pleased to announce the award of certain media rights to Facebook in Latin America, which will Facebook become the exclusive free-to-air home for certain UEFA Champions League live matches across the Spanish-speaking territories during the 2018-21 cycle,"UEFA said in a statement.
The deal will see Facebook show about 32 matches per year which will also include the UEFA Champions Laague final. All these will be shown on UEFA Champions League Facebook Page.
According to a statement by UEFA Events SA Director of Marketing Guy-Laurent Epstein, "We are delighted to welcome Facebook to the UEFA family of media partners. As the largest online social media platform globally, Facebook will ensure wide-ranging free-to-air coverage of the world's most prestigious club competition. We look forward to the launch of this new partnership that will ensure the large community of local football fans is reached in a highly innovative and accessible manner."
The social media giant featured yesterdays UEFA Super up game between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Facebook is intensifying its efforts to grab a chunk of the ever-increasing popular sport programmes. The social media, in a landmark deal with La Liga will be broadcasting for free in Indian sub-continent 2018-2019 season La Liga games
Facebook head of Live Sports programming, Peter Hutton, has said the company is looking "forward to helping fans watch these live matches together" and also help in delivering an innovative viewing experience.