For years we have wondered when digital media companies like Apple, Twitter, Google and others would become a player in live sports rights. While we still may be some distance off from them securing an exclusive deal with a major professional league, various partnerships and broadcasts that are continually being struck means the digital era has begun.
After the NFL and Twitter agreed to simulcast Thursday Night Football games on the platform this fall, college football is also getting in on the act. On Thursday night, the Mountain West Conference and Campus Insiders will team up to provide the first ever live stream of a college football game on Twitter between Weber State and Utah State.
Weber State at Utah State Thursday at 8 p.m. ET will be the first college football game broadcast live on Twitter
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 30, 2016
According to the AP, it’s the first of two Mountain West games that will be streamed on Twitter thanks to a partnership with Campus Insiders. The second game will be a contest between Abilene Christian and Air Force.
I’m not sure if the game is going to be broadcasted live on the conference’s handle or the team’s handle, or even at Campus Insiders but this appears to be the link to the live streaming page. Of course, all those involved are promoting the Twitter broadcast… where else, on Twitter.
The first-ever live college football game on @twitter will be this Thursday!
LINK: https://t.co/za3k7DLN8b pic.twitter.com/AzZfhvAVck
— Campus Insiders (@CampusInsiders) August 30, 2016
🚨Heard it here: 1st-ever CFB game on @Twitter will be Weber St / @USUFootball! https://t.co/y1tM362JFj #mwfb #golive pic.twitter.com/t1CFxN1TMZ
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) August 30, 2016
We are thrilled to be part of this event! https://t.co/eu1IwJCrE7
— USU Football (@USUFootball) August 30, 2016
Kudos to Mountain West for making this one small step for Weber State and Utah State and one giant leap for group of five schools everywhere. The goal for the conference is to grow its digital footprint and expand its brand. For any group of five conference or school, they have to get creative because they certainly don’t receive any great percentage of mainstream sports media coverage.
For college football junkies that are craving some live and meaningful game action and checking social media Thursday night, it’s another option to help feed their fandom. And the broadcast is likely to reach fans that normally wouldn’t be tuning in for a Utah State-Weber State game.
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