MUMBAI: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has netted a five-year strategic partnership with Endeavor Streaming to revamp its global streaming service, Watch.Hockey, in a bid to drive up digital engagement and fan experience for the stick-and-ball sport worldwide.
The deal will create a one-stop digital destination for hockey enthusiasts to access live action from all FIH competitions and other events from the global hockey community throughout the year.
Set to launch ahead of a packed calendar of events including the FIH Hockey Pro League and various Nations Cup tournaments, the beefed-up platform will stream more than 600 events live to fans globally. The service will cover all major competitions including the FIH Hockey World Cup, Pro League, Nations Cups, Junior World Cup, Hockey5s World Cup and Indoor Hockey World Cup.
Fans hungry for hockey content will also be able to feast on highlights and historical matches from the FIH archive on Watch.Hockey, available across web, smart TVs, iOS and Android mobile devices.
Under the partnership, Endeavor Streaming will support and develop the FIH's direct-to-consumer strategy, providing business advisory, audience development, technical deployment, content operations and customer service. The platform will be powered by Endeavor Streaming's Vesper Platform, a complete end-to-end streaming solution designed to help sports bodies build profitable direct-to-consumer experiences.
FIH president Tayyab Ikram said: "Developing and promoting the game is at the very top of the FIH mission. In this regard, the new version of our streaming platform, Watch.Hockey, shall play an even bigger role than ever before in enhancing the visibility of hockey worldwide."
Endeavor Streaming president Fred Santarpia added: "This partnership combines our world-class streaming technology and digital strategy capabilities to deliver sustained commercial growth for international hockey."
The collaboration taps into Endeavor Streaming's experience in delivering innovative direct-to-consumer streaming offerings for leading sports organisations including UEFA, the National Women's Soccer League, Ligue 1 McDonald's, World Rugby and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation.
For hockey fans worldwide, this partnership promises to be anything but a short corner, with ambitious plans to bring the sport to screens big and small for years to come.
