Facebook wants to up the live sports content it offers and hopes to live stream one Major League Baseball game per week when the spring season opens, Reuters reported. The news agency's sources said the parties are in advanced negotiations. Both Facebook and MLB declined to comment.
Facebook wants to sign deals with owners of sports rights to live stream games, going after an audience that competitor Twitter is also trying to capture. With sports being one of the few types of content people still want to watch live, streaming games will be key to attracting people to social media platforms, analysts expect.
Facebook recently cut a deal with Spanish-language network Univision Communications to live stream games from Mexico’s top tier Liga MX football league through Facebook Live in the US.
The news comes as the MLB appointed a new CEO to BAMTech, its unit set up to develop streaming activities, also for other sports channels and leagues. Michael Paull joins the company from Amazon, where he oversaw the development of the Prime Video service.
