Facebook has expanded its partnership with multi-platform sports network Stadium to air 32 college football games this season, including 14 exclusive broadcasts.
Stadium launched last August as a digital hub, before adding a linear channel. Facebook Watch exclusively aired 15 college football games in 2017 from Conference USA and Mountain West. In 2018, Facebook will carry a similar number of exclusive games for Stadium but more than double the total inventory. Games have been selected from the same two conferences as well as the Patriot League, and will be shown on the Stadium: Live College Football Show Page. (The full slate is shown below.)
Last year, the social media network broadcasted 47 exclusive men’s college basketball games. This year, the partnership will feature a total of 175 college sports contests. Stadium is owned by a consortium of sports leagues and media companies and is powered by BAMTech streaming. Its coverage is available over-the-air, via iOS and Android apps, Twitch, Roku, and Fubo TV.
“As one of our most innovative broadcast partners, Stadium has a first-rate social strategy that helps it successfully build community on Facebook,” said Facebook sports partnerships lead for leagues & media, Rob Shaw, in a statement. “The network delivers content that is highly interactive and social, enabling fans to watch sports together in entirely new ways. So we’re proud to extend our partnership with Stadium and bring fans an exciting new wave of college sports programming this year.”
SportTechie Takeaway
The Facebook-Stadium partnership produced one of college football’s signature moments last fall, when the social media users prompted sideline reporter Camryn Irwin to interview Wyoming cheerleader Sidney Ward. Stadium’s exclusive broadcast included dedicated social elements to maximize Facebook’s reach and conversational elements. Smaller college sports lend themselves as ideal events to experiment with new formats, tools, and platforms.
Stadium College Football Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 1: Holy Cross @ Colgate 1 p.m. ET
Saturday, Sept. 1: Stony Brook @ Air Force 2 p.m. ET – Facebook Exclusive
Saturday, Sept. 1: SMU @ North Texas 7:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, Sept. 1: Idaho @ Fresno State 10 p.m. ET – Facebook Exclusive
Saturday, Sept. 8: Sacred Heart @ Bucknell 3 p.m. ET
Saturday, Sept. 8: New Mexico State @ Utah State 8 p.m. ET – Facebook Exclusive
Thursday, Sept. 13: Tennessee Tech @ Utah State 8 p.m. ET – Facebook Exclusive
Saturday, Sept. 15: Tulane @ UAB 1 p.m. ET – Facebook Exclusive
Saturday, Sept. 15: Bethune-Cookman @ Florida Atlantic 6 p.m. ET
Saturday, Sept. 22: Lafayette @ Colgate 1 p.m. ET
Saturday, Sept. 29: Florida Atlantic @ Middle Tennessee 7 p.m. ET – Facebook Exclusive
Saturday, Sept. 29: Marshall @ Western Kentucky 7:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, Oct. 6: Georgetown @ Fordham 1 p.m. ET
Saturday, Oct. 6: Old Dominion @ Florida Atlantic 5 p.m. ET
Saturday, Oct. 6: UAB @ Louisiana Tech 7 p.m. ET – Facebook Exclusive
Saturday, Oct. 13: Cornell @ Colgate 12 p.m. ET
Saturday, Oct. 13: Marshall @ Old Dominion 3:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, Oct. 13: UNLV @ Utah State 4 p.m. ET – Facebook Exclusive
Saturday, Oct. 20: Bryant @ Fordham 1 p.m. ET
Saturday, Oct. 27: Lafayette @ Fordham 1 p.m. ET
Saturday, Oct. 27: New Mexico @ Utah State 4 p.m. ET – Facebook Exclusive
Saturday, Nov. 3: Bucknell @ Lehigh 12:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 3: Marshall @ Southern Miss 3 p.m. ET – Facebook Exclusive
Saturday, Nov. 3: Florida Atlantic @ Florida International 7:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 10: Fordham @ Holy Cross 12 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 10: San Jose State @ Utah State 4 p.m. ET – Facebook Exclusive
Saturday, Nov. 10: Western Kentucky @ Florida Atlantic 5 p.m. ET – Facebook Exclusive
Saturday, Nov. 17: Fordham @ Bucknell 12 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 17: UT-San Antonio @ Marshall 2:30 p.m. ET – Facebook Exclusive
Saturday, Nov. 17: Louisiana Tech @ Southern Miss 3:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 24: Marshall @ Florida International 12 p.m. – Facebook Exclusive
Saturday, Nov. 24: Charlotte @ Florida Atlantic 6 p.m. ET