The Roshn Saudi League (RSL) have partnered with football media and culture company, Footballco, to broadcast tentpole Saudi Pro League games in partnership with Footballco’s creator-led YouTube and social video brand, GOAL’s Front Three.
The partnership kicks off with Al Qadsiah v Al Hilal on October 23. The top-of-the-table clash features former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers in the Al Qadsiah dugout and recent signing from Manchester City Tijjani Reijnders taking on Al Hilal, featuring former Premier League players Ollie Watkins, Gabriel Martinelli and Ruben Neves among their squad.
The broadcast will combine live match footage of the matches in selected markets, discussion and madness fans have come to expect from regular episodes of GOAL’s Front Three.
Before the end of the year, GOAL’s Front Three will also broadcast the Jeddah Derby between Al Ittihad and Al Ahli on November 26 and the Riyadh Derby between Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and Al Hilal on December 10.
To build interest and provide fans with background on the matches, Footballco will leverage its creator-led Middle East brand, Yalla GOAL. Hosts Youssef Othman and Amn Ghelioun, will provide context in the build-up to the matches, including details on the players to watch, wonderkids on the pitch and storylines behind the matches.
Post-match, clips from the watch-a-longs will be shared across GOAL’s Front Three’s social accounts, including TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
Fans who want more Roshn Saudi League football can now watch it where they already follow the game. Footballco has partnered with Recast, the platform powering the Saudi Pro League’s new distribution model, to stream live RSL matches directly on GOAL.
The model enables approved publishers and content partners to offer live RSL matches through their own digital platforms, creating additional routes for international fans to access the competition.
Andy Jackson, SVP Middle East for Footballco, said: “While we’re looking forward to offering fans the ability to stream matches from the RSL on GOAL this season through Recast, we wanted to offer fans something different and the chance to experience some of the biggest games this season in a unique way with the creators they’re used to seeing on a daily basis.
“We’ve seen this approach work before, with our watch-a-long broadcast and social content from last year’s Riyadh Derby being viewed 3.8 million times.
‘We also recognise that we have an opportunity to grow awareness and fandom of the RSL in these markets, through GOAL’s Front Three broadcasts, which can then translate into a transactional relationship on our website through our relationship with RSL and Recast.”
Mohamed Rassmy, Digital Media Rights Director at RSL, said: “Our partnership with Footballco reflects the Roshn Saudi League’s commitment to finding innovative ways to connect with international audiences and grow the Roshn Saudi League’s global fanbase.”
“By combining live football with the reach and influence of established digital creators, we can engage fans on the platforms they already use, while making the RSL more accessible and building stronger relationships with supporters around the world.”
GOAL’s Front Three Live broadcasts will be available to fans in the UK and Ireland, Belgium, Nordic countries and Canada.
