Confirmed: IMG developing rugby league streaming service

Today we saw the first ever IMG grades with Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves, Hull KR, Hull FC, Catalans Dragons and St Helens claiming Grade As and therefore would attain immunity to relegation in the future should they maintain their Grade A status.

Though this is the first step for the IMG era, there is work still to be done.

Some of that work is the creation of an OTT. This stands of Over the top media service and is a means of providing television and film content over the internet at the request and to suit the requirements of the individual consumer.

This suggests that RL Commercial and IMG are developing a streaming service of some kind.

This was confirmed after the IMG Gradings were revealed:

“I think probably the key one is really what has come out of the broadcast contract, which is for the first time ever, we are going to be in a position where we have all games broadcast. So you can watch every game of every team.

“Now, where that is important from our point of view is in the OTT that we are developing. So that’s where a lot of the current focus is on, and that’s going to be something that’s very new for everyone from next year.

“What it’s called, I’m not 100% sure, but let me run you through what it would look like. Effectively, you’ll be able to go into your Our League app or the equivalent and there will be subscription options there for you to be able to get and to be able to watch every game, either live or delayed.

“That is something that’s a real first for this sport. It’s not a first for other sports. It’s becoming almost a must-have in today’s digital world. But that’s where a lot of the focus, particularly over the off-season, is going to be getting that up and running so we’re ready to go for the start of the season.

“I think that’s going to be something that’s really unique for all the fans and that’s in conjunction with the fact that obviously with our primary broadcaster with Sky, that they will also be broadcasting every game.

“I really want to push that point home. That is really different for this sport. So the ability to tell the narrative and to be able to watch your team through the whole season is something that’s really, really different for the sport from next season onwards.”