LAFC announced their inaugural jersey sponsor and local broadcast deal on Wednesday – and they’re with the same company.
The incoming expansion club has partnered with YouTube TV as both its jersey-front sponsor and local English-language broadcaster. The multi-year deal marks the first time a North American pro sports will have all locally televised matches on a live TV streaming provider.
“This truly is a historic day for our club,” LAFC owner and president Tom Penn said in a statement. “YouTube TV is an ambitious and innovative brand that we are proud to showcase on the front of our jersey and in our community. We are excited to provide our fans with a new and creative way to watch all of LAFC’s matches in one place during our inaugural season.”
Launched last April, YouTube TV is a $35 per month subscription service that’s available online and on mobile devices in 80 metro areas in the US. It features programming from nearly 50 channels, ESPN and FOX Sports, as well as local over-the-air channels.
The service will be the exclusive home for all locally televised English-language LAFC matches, and will also carry all LAFC’s nationally-televised matches aired on ESPN, FOX and FS1.
Under the partnership, all locally broadcast LAFC gams will be shown on a designated YouTube TV channel. The deal also includes original LAFC programming and content and 30-minute pre- and post-game shows from the YouTube TV set at Banc of California Stadium.
While YouTube TV is a national subscription service, LAFC matches will be geo-fenced and only available in the Los Angeles market on YouTube TV. Pregame and postgame coverage and additional non-match LAFC programming will be available to all YouTube TV subscribers nationwide.
“We are at the forefront of engaging our fans on a digital, cable-free platform such as YouTube,” Penn said. “We are also committed to making our matches accessible to everyone throughout Los Angeles, and our upcoming broadcast announcements will provide comprehensive coverage of our club all over Southern California.”
LAFC have not yet announced their play-by-play announcer or analyst team. The club are currently in the middle of their inaugural preseason training camp, and will play their first preseason friendly on Thursday against Toronto FC.
