Fanatiz expands US soccer footprint with Fanatiz1 linear channel and YouTube hub

The move signifies a tactical reversal of the 'streaming-only' trend, as Fanatiz utilizes linear distribution to achieve broader reach among the 30 million US Hispanic soccer fans. By launching a 24/7 linear channel, Fanatiz secures a presence in traditional cable bundles while simultaneously using YouTube to maintain engagement with younger, digitally native cord-cutters. This hybrid approach mirrors a broader industry shift where niche sports rights holders must navigate fragmented distribution to maintain visibility. Watch for the conversion rate of YouTube viewers into paid premium subscribers as a metric for the efficiency of this multi-funnel strategy.

The expansion follows a period of significant consolidation and competition for Latin American soccer rights in the US. Per World Soccer Talk in March 2024, Fanatiz has historically relied on distributing beIN SPORTS and GolTV to anchor its offerings, but the launch of Fanatiz1 marks a transition toward owned-and-operated linear assets. This shift occurs as rivals like TelevisaUnivision's ViX+ and Paramount+ have aggressively bid for regional tournament rights, such as the Argentine Primera División and various CONMEBOL qualifiers, to anchor their own Spanish-language tiers.

Industry data from Nielsen in 2023 highlighted that Hispanic audiences are 19% more likely to use ad-supported streaming services than the general population, justifying Fanatiz's decision to integrate a free-to-access YouTube hub as a top-of-funnel acquisition tool. Furthermore, per Sport Business in late 2023, Fz Sports has been active in securing international distribution rights for the Brasileirão, aiming to capitalize on the 2026 World Cup interest in North America. By establishing Fanatiz1 now, the company positions itself to capture the anticipated surge in soccer interest leading up to the tournament, while mitigating the rising costs of third-party carriage fees by owning the broadcast pipeline.