But no panic! Webcast still lives on the WSL site, at least for a little longer…
Earlier today, the WSL announced they’d signed a two-year exclusive broadcast rights deal with Facebook.
All of the WSL’s big events, the men’s and women’s WCTs, the big-wavers, the WQS 10,000s and the World Juniors. Facebook has got ’em.
“This is game-changing for the sport in many ways and, with current and new fans front of mind, we can retain the free offering to fans, and it allows us to deliver the world’s best surfing to even more people on Facebook’s platform,” said the company’s lovely, if non-surfing, CEO Sophie Goldschmidt.
“We’re excited to help WSL continue to serve and grow this vibrant community and usher in a new era of surf broadcasting on Facebook Watch (the company’s US-only video platform),” Facebook’s Head of Global Sports Partnerships, Dan Reed said.
Which means, eventually, you’re going to have to sign up for a Facebook account, along with all its voyeuristic time-wasting and addictive stalking, to watch WCT events.
But not just yet.
“When the live experience is as good or better then there’ll be full migration to the the Facebook platform,” the WSL’s gloriously titled Senior Vice President of Global Brand Identity, Dave Prodan told BeachGrit. “Before that, it exists on the WSL platform.”
Prodan said there’s no time-frame on when it’ll become Facebook only, “Suffice to say that the current product is sophisticated. Facebook have talented developers so we’re excited to see what they come up with.”
Did Facebook cough up a little cash in the deal?
“It’s a media rights deal so a revenue component as well as promotion across the two-billion person platform. The WSL rights are very in demand.”
Of course, a Facebook-only broadcast kills the fun when your progressive workplace stiffs FB during operating hours, and only opens the gate for an hour at lunch.
If you live in Australia and have become panicked that Fox Sports won’t be running WCT events, you can relax. This is a digital-rights deal only.
“Linear broadcast ala Fox Sports in Australia won’t be affected,” said Prodan.
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My name’s Dale and I’ve been social media free for 274 days now.
Same, thought I was the only one. Probably not fair to hate something you’ve never used, but I fkn hate Facebook and it’s Bastard son Instagram.
The helicopter’s landing skid in the top left corner of the photo looks oddly like a gun barrel pointed right at Ian Walsh in this photo. A sign from the gods? Are we doomed?
As Maurice stated the other day on death of surfing – does a FB controlled WSL do anything for the grassroots of surfing??
Where will ad revenue go – to FB or WSL to support grassroots surfing?
Seems to be just a cut in broadcast fees for Frau Goldschmidt as FB will handle that and WSL will be in black rather than in massive debt and can pay back Ziff!!!
Just as long as this does not change the one and only Dawn Patrol intro song. It is one of the greatest pieces of music every written.
If its anything like the national news or Alana Blanchard live, there will be a top notch comment section.
Congrats to the WSL for this smoking deal. This is going to totally open the flood gates to spectators who wish to listen to random babbling during excruciatingly long ocean lulls. Just imagine what this deal will do for our beloved sport?!
Exactly
If family and friends couldn’t get me back to Facebook, what chance does the WSL have?
Crucial question.
hummm…no thanks.
No faceybook for this Channelbottom.
I guess it’s bye-bye to the WSL feeds.
Good riddance actually.
How do you guys actually sit through surf comps? Boring as bat shit
People with friends?
FB is almost as dumb as Fox News.
the people running the WSL right now are likely your parents’ age
almost?
they aren’t interested in kids, they’re broke as fuck, WSL wants your mother in law
Fuck no, teenage boys spend like teenage girls used to…just not on surf gear. Would you believe Tommy Hillfinger is big at the skate park. And Supreme…..
Supreme, yes. Hilfiger, hard to believe, but, yeah.
Couldn’t pornhub or redtube have tried harder to get the tender? Facebook can get fucked. (puns intended). The Grit oughta get into the streaming biz (vids not golden shower)… could be one hot, lucrative and steamy affair.
Cube monkeys. Thank you. Just superb.