Last week, we reported on Victory+ launching its own sports FAST service, and now the field is expanding further. The introduction of Free Live Sports is a game-changer in the space, offering a massive selection of sports channels that include both pro and amateur competitions. With 68 channels live at launch and an additional 34 expected by the end of October, the platform features everything from soccer and motorsports to poker, MMA, and even emerging sports like cornhole and chess. The service also provides thousands of hours of on-demand content, such as sports movies, documentaries, and highlights.
Led by streaming industry veterans Cathy Rasenberger, Geoff Clark, Ryan James, and James Patrick, Free Live Sports arrives as the most comprehensive sports FAST service available. It offers premium sports programming across over 75 countries, specifically focusing on the U.S., where FAST platforms are seeing significant growth.
Sports-centric channels include ACCDN, Big 12 Network, Boxing TV, Glory Kickboxing, MAVTV, Mike Tyson TV, Motorsport.tv, MotoAmerica, PFL, PokerGo, Tennis Channel, Willow Sports, and more. This broad array of channels ensures that fans of almost every sport, from traditional leagues to niche and emerging sports, will find something to tune into.
Through their joint venture, Sports Studio, the co-founders are using the infrastructure of the recently acquired UK-based Sports Tribal platform as a springboard. With its established footprint in the EU, they aim to rapidly expand in the U.S. and beyond. App launches on major platforms like Roku and Fire TV have already begun, with others like Android, Vizio, iOS, and tvOS coming soon.
Fans-First Focus and Industry Disruption
A key differentiator for Free Live Sports is its fans-first approach. The platform offers viewers unparalleled access to live and on-demand sports content through an ad-supported model. This aligns with growing trends in the U.S. FAST market, where viewership is migrating from traditional linear channels to streaming platforms that offer flexibility and accessibility without subscription costs.
“Sports have been underrepresented in the FAST space for far too long, but that’s about to change,” said co-founders Cathy Rasenberger, Ryan James, James Patrick, and Geoff Clark in a joint statement. “With our collective expertise, we’re committed to providing sports fans unparalleled access to their favorite content while also giving leagues and content providers a new way to connect with audiences.”
In addition to bringing in a wide variety of niche sports channels, Free Live Sports is also focused on partnerships with major sports leagues in the U.S. They aim to help those leagues broaden their reach by offering them a direct channel to FAST audiences. This strategy will help them attract a growing base of passionate sports fans looking for more flexible viewing options.
With the launch of Free Live Sports and the recent debut of Victory+, the sports landscape on FAST platforms is evolving quickly. The days of underrepresented sports content in the ad-supported streaming space appear to be numbered.
What’s Next for Free Live Sports
The Streaming Wars plans to catch up with the founders of Free Live Sports soon to discuss the platform’s strategy and ambitious plans for the future. Stay tuned for more insights.
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