Expanding its coverage of Messi, Ronaldo and other football stars throughout Russia 2018, Mediaset will enable an over-the-top (OTT), live channel and an HbbTV app in Spain.
From when the first ball in Moscow gets kicked on 14 June, Spain’s Mediaset plans to release a hybrid TV app for smart TVs. The HbbTV platform will deliver live statistics and broadcasting information to complement the free-to-air (FTA), DTT programming.
Additionally, Mitele.es, the group’s OTT platform, will become the World Cup’s main online screen, delivering live signal for the 64 games of the championship, which will also be available on-demand.
The website of Mediaset’s main linear channel, Telecinco, will also deliver short pieces with recaps, highlights, data analysis and interviews, while Mediaset’s social media feeds on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram will also participate of the games’ coverage.
Mediaset will also for the first time broadcast the 64 games live through linear TV using up to three of its channels – Telecinco, Cuatro and BeMad – when necessary.
According to the group, over 200 hours of live programming related to Russia 2018 will be broadcast between 14 June and 15 July.
Though a good performance of Spain’s national team is important to the ratings, a World Cup is always an important audience driver. During Brazil 2014, when La Roja was kicked out in the first round, Mediaset averaged 5.57 million viewers and a 38.7% share per game.