SuperLeague+ Launched

[josie andrews]

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.

Fans are able to watch live Betfred Super League coverage and more on the Super League Plus website, as well as via the SuperLeague+ app on iOS, Android and Connected TVs.

Launching on 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.

Rhodri Jones, Managing Director of RL Commercial, said: “The launch of SuperLeague+ marks the start of a new era for the Betfred Super League and for British Rugby League. Thanks to the groundbreaking deal agreed with Sky Sports last year, all six matches in each of the 27 weekly rounds of the Men’s Super League through the 2024 season – a total of 162 games – will be broadcast on a variety of platforms.

“Sky Sports will retain exclusive live coverage of two fixtures in each round and our new OTT platform, SuperLeague+, will offer live coverage of the remaining matches.”

He added: “This live coverage of more than 100 weekly-round fixtures will be augmented by on-demand, delayed coverage of Sky’s selections for fans in the British Isles. Meanwhile, SuperLeague+ will offer live coverage of all matches in every round for international subscribers. SuperLeague+ will also offer a range of original programming and archive matches and features – meaning that with Sky Sports also showing more Rugby League in 2024, including selections from the Betfred Women’s and Wheelchair Super Leagues, fans will have more ways to watch more matches than ever before.”

Peter Bellamy, Chief Commercial Officer at Endeavor Streaming, said: “For the first time, Betfred Super League fans around the world can watch live coverage of their favourite teams from one destination. With our world-class streaming technology and fan engagement expertise, we’re able to help the sport expand its international reach and connect directly with its global fanbase to drive even deeper engagement.”

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.

Through single sign-on, members of Our League, RLC’s membership platform can also seamlessly access the service which will be available on web HERE https://superleagueplus.co.uk/home 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. Subscriptions for the service start at £19.99 per month or £129.99 annually, however selected content will be available as Pay-Per-View via Match Passes from £6.99 per game. The RLC will also utilise Endeavor Streaming’s fan support services, offering fans a dedicated helpdesk for SuperLeague+ users throughout the season.

Fans can purchase an Annual pass for £129.99, with rolling monthly subscriptions and Pay-Per-View match passes also available. 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.

Wigan Warriors Season Ticket Holders wishing to obtain a code, please email seasontickets@wiganwarriors.com. You must include full name and address.

Full details and FAQs are now live HERE. https://www.superleague.co.uk/superleagueplus

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).

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/01/ ... -launched/

[doc]

I attend all home matches but can't usually get to away matches. £6.99 a game isn't a bad offer given that it will cost less to watch every away match than to pay a months subscription to Sky/Virgin. Providing we still get full matches on Wigan TV as well I will be very happy.

[adam0026]

Sorry to sound a bit daft.
I’m a sky sports subscriber.
Will I still be able to watch every game on sky sports?

[Wintergreen]

Sorry to sound a bit daft.
I’m a sky sports subscriber.
Will I still be able to watch every game on sky sports?

As far as I'm aware all matches will be broadcast live on Sky.

[Southern Softy]

Sorry to sound a bit daft.
I’m a sky sports subscriber.
Will I still be able to watch every game on sky sports?

As far as I'm aware all matches will be broadcast live on Sky.

I thought only the first 15 rounds of this season would be all live on SKY and thereafter, two matches will be on SKY each week and the rest.............. you'll have to pay for.

Which all begs the question about the following season(s). My pessimistic guess is that SKY will (maybe) continue to show two live matches each week, unless they decide it's not worth their while and pull out. If they do, packages will be put together by this bunch of money-makers with a steep rise in prices and RL will sink or swim.

Anyway, I'm more looking forward to a trip to AFC Wimbledon's stadium to see the lads.

[Blackpool_Pie]

So is that an extra on top of a sky subscription? It's still not clear

[adam0026]

I’ve just emailed the support thing…

“The information we have at present is that sky will show every super league game in 2024”

Sky have all of the games.
From round 15, the streaming app will have 4 of the games and sky will always have the full 6.

[Wintergreen]

For the first 15 rounds of the season, with the exception of Rivals Round, Sky Sports subscribers will have exclusive access to two matches per week.

The remaining four matches of each round will be shown live on Sky Sports and Rugby League's own streaming platform - with further details to be announced early in the New Year


Pretty clear there.

What it does clear up, and this is not made clear in the RFL release, is that there would appear to be 2 matches that are ONLY available on Sky each week.

[Caboosegg]

I was really hoping for better value, they can say what they want about 6.99 per game but this is a entertainment streaming platform.

Netflix starts at 5 quid
Amazon at 10 quid
Disney starts at 5 quid.

Starting at 19.99 is obscene. You think they would have a introductory offer to bring people in.

Basically IMG are trying to fleece current fans to claim they have increased revenue.

[Wintergreen]

They are just testing the water for the right balance imo.

I actually think they are onto something by putting everything on TV.

Leaving things "as they are" will ensure semi professionalism in a few years.

Worth a shot to widen the offer imo.