Twitter and iflix join forces for football fans

Twitter and online content streaming site iflix have collaborated to provide access to premier football in the region, with both parties are combining live stream technology and social media commentary to engage the mobile-first generation.

Football fans across Southeast Asia will have direct free access to over 200 Malaysian Football League (MFL) matches on all connected devices via Twitter on iflix’s new Webview Player. Meanwhile, Twitter users can participate in the real-time commentary, interactive game-play and featured polls via select hashtags throughout each match.

In addition to live streaming matches, iflix will integrate real-time highlights, clips and interviews, available via Twitter moments as a football community building tool for fans and clubs. Both parties aim to enhance the viewing experience and engage fans.

iflix acquired exclusive online video streaming rights to MFL matches in a 10-year joint venture with Malaysia Football League last year. The company has live-streamed matches across all tournaments including Piala Sumbangsih, unifi Liga Super, Shopee Piala FA, the inaugural Malaysia Challenge Cup, and unifi Piala Malaysia. This also includes the over 800 episodes of catch-ups, highlights, and original shorts, on the Football Malaysia on iflix channel, which can be accessed via the native app, mobile web app and microsite.

In addition to this, iflix will be collaborating with football portals Semuanya Bola and Goal.com to bring live matches closer to the fans with the integration of iflix’s live stream service. This builds on iflix’s growing live sports streaming offering which includes UAAB basketball in the Philippines, Liga 1 football and the McGregor and Mayweather bout in Indonesia and T10 and T20 cricket in Bangladesh.

Twitter head of sports partnerships, SEA and Greater China, Maurizio Barbieri said that broadcasting every game of the season for a premier first-division football league is a first for Twitter in Southeast Asia. He added that this marks as an opportunity to combine the amount of football conversation on the platform with the premium content that drives it.

"We have enjoyed great success live-streaming with leading sports broadcasters around the world, so we are excited to collaborate with iflix to bring more live football to one of the most passionate fanbases in the world," he said.

Iflix co-founder and group CEO, Mark Britt, said that this is a leap forward for iflix in its mission to "democratise Malaysia’s favourite sport". "We are so proud to be the first video streaming service in Southeast Asia to power MFL live-streaming technology on Twitter, and driven by the opportunity to liberate the sport and empower the fans," he added.