<p>Once again, the European Super League is rearing its head with a new launch date and revised aspirations. The original plan for the Super League was to create a new competition that would give the biggest teams and players more freedom. Not only would this give them more money, but it would help the fans. The contentious league met harsh criticism from fans and clubs alike. Now, though, the organizers of the league are working to get it going again. </p>



<p>Bernd Reichart, the CEO of Super League organizing group A22, now has a defined starting time for the competition. Speaking to German outlet <a href="https://as.com/futbol/internacional/la-gente-merece-mejor-futbol-y-mas-asequible-n/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kicker</a>, Reichart identified a time less than one year from now as the point he wants the league to start. That time is September 2025. There has not been significant discussion about teams that would be interested in joining the European Super League. Regardless, Reichart remains confident that the league fits the desires of fans and clubs alike.</p>



<p>For example, the original aim of the Super League was to create intriguing matches on a European scale. At one point, clubs like <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/juventus-tv-schedule/">Juventus</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/liverpool-tv-schedule/">Liverpool</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">Manchester City</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/inter-milan-tv-schedule/">Inter Milan</a> expressed an interest in the league. Any time those teams play, fans tune in. </p>



<p>Reichart pointed to the new-look <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">Champions League</a> that, in some ways, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/uefa-increases-prize-money-to-put-halt-to-super-league-hopes-20240208-WST-488409.html">incorporates aspects</a> of the European Super League. Bayern Munich defeated Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 before Borussia Dortmund blasted Celtic for a 7-1 win. In Reichart’s eyes, the European Super League will give fans more matchups like Manchester City against Inter Milan or <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a> against PSG. The former of those fixtures happened in this season’s Champions League, but that was a drab and scoreless draw.</p>



<h2>Reichart: Super League launch date will also be more affordable for fans</h2>



<p>In addition to having highlight-level matches, Reichart went on to add that the European Super League will also be more cost-effective. Currently, one of the biggest complaints among soccer fans is how expensive it is to watch. For example, watching a top Premier League club involves three different providers to watch all the games. ESPN has the FA Cup, NBC holds the rights to the Premier League and CBS wraps up the European competitions and the EFL Cup. </p>



<p>“We are studying new technologies and the business model based on them because we believe that football fans deserve a better and more affordable experience on their screens,” Reichart said.</p>



<p>In fairness, he did not mention how he and A22 achieve a more affordable product. In the past, the organizers had mentioned <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/european-super-league-organizers-promise-free-streaming-of-games-20231222-WST-479234.html">free streaming of all games</a> in the European Super League. It would make money based on advertisements. However, this cannot rival the money that partnerships with TV providers would bring in. Clubs would certainly need assurances that they will still be able to make money if they are to join this competition.</p>



<p>Regardless, the launch date that A22 wants for the Super League is less than a year away. By that measure, it must work quickly to round up enough clubs that would bring in considerable interest to drive the product’s viewership.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO</em></p>

Super League reveals launch date, promises 'better experience’

Once again, the European Super League is rearing its head with a new launch date and revised aspirations for its beginning.

<p>The European Super League took a major step toward actualization on Thursday. The European Court of Justice ruled <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/explained-what-the-european-super-league-ruling-means-20231221-WST-478973.html">UEFA acted out of its boundaries</a> in punishing clubs for competing in different leagues or tournaments. Consequently, the discussions about the future of the European Super League continued to ramp up.</p>



<p>Granted, there is no concrete future for the European competition. Droves of clubs said they still align with UEFA and that their plans have not changed. Clubs like <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-united-tv-schedule/">Manchester United</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a>, Atletico Madrid and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/bayern-munich-tv-schedule/">Bayern Munich</a> said the Super League is an attack on domestic soccer.</p>



<p>Regardless, A22, the sports management firm overseeing the European Super League, is planning a free streaming service. That would allow anyone who wants to watch the competition to enjoy it at no charge. This would be a massive gamble given the finances involved in the European Super League. For example, A22 says teams would receive $422 million for the first three years of competition. Even if the only two teams to not denounce the Super League are <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a>, that is almost $1 billion in allocation money.</p>



<p>Moreover, TV and streaming deals bring in the lion’s share of money for sports leagues. The UEFA Champions League rights went to CBS in a six-year deal. CBS paid $1.5 billion, or $250 million per year, for the rights in the United States. The European Super League would not have that money coming in. </p>



<h2>How can European Super League make money with free streaming?</h2>



<p>Barcelona has been pulling levers and walking on eggshells to avoid bankruptcy over the last several years. While the club would be making money, there are limited explanations as to where that revenue could come in.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The future of football is free. <br><br>We are proposing a state-of-the-art streaming platform to allow fans to watch every game for free. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BetterForFootball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BetterForFootball</a><br><br>Discover more about Unify: <a href="https://t.co/QXyU3pKhwF">pic.twitter.com/QXyU3pKhwF</a></p>— A22 Sports (@A22Sports) <a href="https://twitter.com/A22Sports/status/1737802488009339078?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>A22 suggested advertising as a means to pull in money. Other leagues also benefit from advertising. Heineken is a name-brand sponsor of the Champions League, as is snack brand Lays. The Super League could have similar sponsors, and that would bring in money to the league.</p>



<p>Still, this pales in comparison to the lucrative offers from TV companies. It would be an enticing offer for fans and clubs, as it would make the availability to watch these teams straightforward and cheap for the viewers. That may draw more teams to the league if viewership is promising.</p>



<p>A22’s plan to offer free streaming to soccer fans worldwide also flies in the face of the possibility of having a streaming service such as Apple TV buying the global rights to a competition like this.</p>



<p>Is the promise of free streaming for the European Super League simply a false promise to win the hearts and minds of soccer fans worldwide? Or is it the future of streaming for sports fans?</p>



<h2>Potential of the Super League</h2>



<p>Any viewership of the league will have to wait until the future. There is no plan over when the European Super League will start up on this free streaming service. It would be a massive undertaking if it did happen. With 64 teams spread across the men’s Super League in three divisions, there would be strong potential for money. Meanwhile, that assumes the Super League can muster 64 teams to compete. </p>



<p>Again, based on verbal commitments, many of Europe’s best sides will stick to the UEFA competitions they are already involved in. That makes it challenging to think about the future of what this competition will look like. Barcelona and Real Madrid, though, seem adamant in their commitment to making this happen.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO</em>.</p>

European Super League organizers promise free streaming of games

The European Super League took a major step toward actualization on Thursday, and it claimed free streaming is coming for viewers.

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Super League reveals launch date, promises 'better experience’

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European Super League organizers promise free streaming of games