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HBO Max will make history tonight with the first-ever domestic live sporting event. Beginning at 10 p.m. ET, US subscribers will be able to watch the US Women’s National Soccer Team take on her 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosts, the New Zealand team. The streamer will also cover the follow-up match between the US and New Zealand on January 20th.
In addition to live match coverage, HBO Max will also provide subscribers with pre- and post-match coverage, as well as replays. The pre-game show begins at 9:30 PM ET.
It’s also important to note that both HBO Max subscription tiers do not include advertising, a spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery told TechCrunch.
The company last week announced a line-up of sports analysts, including National Soccer Hall of Famers Julie Foudy, DaMarcus Beasley, Shannon Box and former U.S. Men’s National Team player Kyle Martino. Soccer commentator Luke Wylman provides play-by-play with Hoody. Former professional soccer player Melissa Ortiz reports live from Wellington, New Zealand.
Image credit: United States Soccer Federation/HBO Max
As previously announced, U.S. Soccer and Turner Sports, a division of WarnerMedia, have entered into an eight-year multimedia rights deal, giving TNT and HBO Max exclusive access to more than 20 women’s and men’s varsity games each year. It has become a place to deliver in English. All matches will be simulcast on HBO Max, but TNT will broadcast some matches.
The deal does not include the 2023 Women’s World Cup matches to be broadcast by Fox and Telemundo. However, World Cup qualifiers, friendly matches and competitions are included.
HBO Max will debut the US Men’s National Team on Jan. 25 livestreaming the US vs. Serbia match. The team will play Colombia on 28 January as broadcast by TNT.
Acquiring US football streaming rights is a big deal for the company. Since the streamer isn’t known for sports, a domestic live sports service will help HBO Max better compete with his rivals in the sports space, including Paramount+, Peacock, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+.
HBO Max is also working on live hockey, thanks to a multi-year rights deal with the National Hockey League (NHL). Last year, Turner Sports struck a deal that gave TBS and TNT the rights to broadcast regular his season games, as well as the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Stanley Cup Finals games.
HBO Max subscribers in Brazil and Mexico will have access to live UEFA Champions League matches.
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