LONDON: Rugby League Commercial (RLC) has unveiled its new global, direct-to-consumer streaming service, SuperLeague+. The platform marks the next phase of IMG’s long-term strategic partnership with RLC to reimagine the sport in the UK. Powered by IMG sister company Endeavor Streaming, it will help drive the sport’s digital transformation, diversify its media strategy and reach new audiences worldwide.
Launching Tuesday, 23 January, ahead of the 2024 Betfred Super League season, SuperLeague+ will stream all 167 matches from the competition live internationally, starting on Thursday 15 February with the season opener, one of the sport’s classic derby fixtures between Hull FC and Hull KR.
In the UK and Republic of Ireland, domestic fans will be able to watch 106 Betfred Super League games live on the service, with the remaining 61 games to be made available delayed and on-demand. Live coverage in the UK will kick off on Friday 16 February when reigning World Club Champions St Helens take on newly promoted London Broncos, and 2023 Betfred Challenge Cup winners Leigh Leopards play the Huddersfield Giants (both 8pm UK kick off).
The service will also feature exclusive fan content, including Betfred Super League highlights, archive content, dedicated club sections, and original programming such as Player Features, Super League Stories and the Out of Your League podcast.
Hosted on Endeavor Streaming’s end-to-end streaming solution, Vesper, SuperLeague+ will offer an enhanced viewing experience through features such as multi-view, which enables fans to switch between live games that are being played concurrently. The RLC will also utilise Endeavor Streaming’s fan support services, offering fans a dedicated helpdesk for SuperLeague+ users throughout the season.
Through single sign-on, members of Our League, RLC’s membership platform can also seamlessly access the service which will be available on web at www.superleague.co.uk/superleagueplus, and via the SuperLeague+ app on iOS and Android devices, as well as Connected TV platforms (Apple TV, Fire TV and Android TV).
In addition, Endeavor Streaming will provide flexible, out-the-box monetization tooling to offer fans a range of subscription and Pay-Per-View packages based on their location. Fans can purchase an Annual pass for £129.99 or rolling monthly subscriptions for £19.99 per month, with Pay-Per-View match passes available from £6.99 per game. Betfred Super League season ticket holders can also enjoy an annual subscription at the discounted price of £99.99 when purchased via a redemption code provided by their club.
It is the latest development in IMG’s digital transformation work with Rugby League Commercial and follows recently announced partnerships with digital asset management solution, ScorePlay, and fantasy gaming provider, Voono, to enhance the sport’s digital strategy and attract new, younger audiences.
The launch builds on Endeavor Streaming’s experience building innovative streaming services and fan-engagement platforms for some of the world’s biggest rightsholders including World Rugby, New Zealand Rugby, Tottenham Hotspur, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the English Football League (EFL).
