"This project represents a cultural shift in the way
different types of football fans want to connect with and explore the global
game," said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
FIFA is launching the service with a feature-length
documentary on former Brazil and Barcelona midfielder Ronaldinho along with a
number of other films, under the title 'FIFA Originals' created by outside
production companies.
The live games will be geo-blocked so that the service does
not compete with existing rights-holding broadcasters of competitions. The
matches will also be archived and there are also highlights packages.
"By the end of 2022, FIFA+ will be streaming the
equivalent of 40,000 live games per year from 100 Member Associations across
all six confederations, including 11,000 women's matches," FIFA said in a
statement.
"FIFA+ offers live coverage from Europe's topflight
leagues to previously unserved competitions from around the world in men's,
women's and youth football. From launch, 1,400 matches will be live streamed
monthly on FIFA+, rising rapidly."
FIFA's biggest source of revenue is television broadcast
rights to the men's World Cup and while they currently have no plans to charge
for the content on FIFA+, the organisation does expect to generate income from
advertising.
"There will be video advertising, pre roll advertising,
there will be banner advertising. There will also be opportunities to
co-produce branded content, for example, and plenty of other activation
opportunities partners. That is effectively the monetization story of the
platform," said Charlotte Burr, FIFA+ Project Lead told reporters in a
conference call.
Burr added there were no plans to charge viewers for content
but that changes could not be ruled out in the future.
"It is free and the intention is it's free forever.
There is no plan to charge a subscription fee for the service," she said.
"That doesn't mean to say that we may not evolve over
time should there be a value proposition that allows us to charge subscription
if we step into premium rights or adopt other kind of models. But there will
always be a free experience on FIFA+."
The launch also features an 'all access' series of six 30
minute shows featuring Brazil defender Dani Alves, created by his own
production company Maracana Media.
A docuseries 'Icons' features five women's players while
Captains is an eight part series looking at top national team skippers heading
into the World Cup.
Among the production companies who have made content for
FIFA+ are Fulwell 73, Gary Lineker's Goalhanger Productions and Noah Media
Group.
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