Skip to main content

Full streams ahead for Twitter as it strikes Pac-12 live university sports deal

Twitter has evidently prioritized its live-streaming strategy. Having formerly announced a historic broadcasting deal with the NFL, it is now adding another sports-oriented partner to its live video roster.

Pac-12 Networks today announced that Twitter will live-stream its university sports events during the 2016-17 season, totalling 150 games. Among the sports broadcasts expected to make it on to the social network are baseball, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, ice hockey, track and field, wrestling, lacrosse, and water polo.

Recommended Videos

“Twitter is the fastest way to find out what is happening in live sports,” said Anthony Noto, Twitter’s chief financial officer. “Our partnership with the Pac-12 Networks will give sports fans a great way to view live sporting events along with the live Twitter conversation they are already accustomed to.”

Despite receiving premier streaming status as part of the deal, Twitter does not have the exclusive rights to the live broadcasts, which will also be available on the Pac-12 website, and on official university websites.

The partnership falls in line with Twitter’s focus on live sports streaming, which it is reportedly seeking to expand upon by pursuing deals with the NBA, MLS, and cable network Turner.

Earlier this month, Twitter tested its first sports live-stream with footage from the Wimbledon tennis championships. The trial run gave viewers an indication of the format of live-streams on a platform that, until now, has served as a second screen during sports events.

As real-time broadcasts proliferate on Twitter, all eyes will undoubtedly be on the impact they have on its user numbers. The company’s CEO Jack Dorsey is convinced that Twitter’s live experience is its biggest strength, but persuading traditional cable viewers (and cord-cutters) to treat the service as a primary screen could turn out to be a tough sell.

Saqib Shah
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Saqib Shah is a Twitter addict and film fan with an obsessive interest in pop culture trends. In his spare time he can be…
How to deactivate your Instagram account (or delete it)
A person holding a phone with the Instagram app open on it.

Oh, social media. Sometimes it’s just too much, folks. If you’re finding yourself in a position where shutting down your Instagram account for a period of time sounds good, Meta’s powers that be have made it pretty simple to deactivate your Instagram account. It’s also quite easy to completely delete your Instagram, although we wouldn’t recommend this latter option if you plan on returning to the platform at a later date.

Read more
Bluesky finally adds a feature many had been waiting for
A blue sky with clouds.

Bluesky has been making a lot of progress in recent months by simplifying the process to sign up while at the same time rolling out a steady stream of new features.

As part of those continuing efforts, the social media app has just announced that users can now send direct messages (DMs).

Read more
Incogni: Recover your privacy and remove personal information from the internet
Incogni remove your personal data from brokers and more

Everything you do while online is tracked digitally. Often connected to your email address or an issued IP, trackers can easily identify financial details, sensitive information like your social security number, demographics, contact details, like a phone number or address, and much more. In many ways, this information is tied to a digital profile and then collated, recorded, and shared via data brokers. There are many ways this information can be scooped up and just as many ways, this information can be shared and connected back to you and your family. The unfortunate reality is that, for most of us, we no longer have any true privacy.

The problem is exacerbated even more if you regularly use social media, share content or images online, or engage in discussions on places like Reddit or community boards. It's also scary to think about because even though we know this information is being collected, we don't necessarily know how much is available, who has it, or even what that digital profile looks like.

Read more