YouTube TV and Seattle Sounders FC announced a partnership on Wednesday that will enable all of the club’s MLS matches in 2018 to appear live on the streaming service for fans in the area.
The deal includes exclusive streaming rights to the team’s 20 regionally televised matches, which will be available on a dedicated Sounders FC YouTube TV channel. YouTube TV subscribers can also stream 14 national televised matches on ESPN, FOX Sports and FS1.
Fans in Spokane and throughout Western Washington in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties, encapsulating the greater Puget Sound metro area, can access the app. They can watch YouTube TV on Apple TV, Roku, Xbox One and smart TVs in addition to mobile devices, tablets and computers.
“Seattle is a city of innovation and Sounders FC has always strived to contribute to the creative culture of our hometown, bringing the best and most forward-thinking elements to our fans,” Sounders FC Chief Operating Officer Bart Wiley said in a statement. “With the addition of YouTube TV into our viewing arsenal, Sounders fans now have an exciting and creative option for following their team, complementing our traditional broadcast channels. We’re thrilled to work with YouTube TV as our club’s first official streaming partner, and we look forward to building a strong partnership together.”
“Sounders FC have one of the most passionate fanbases of any team in the MLS and we couldn’t be prouder to partner with them as their official live TV streaming provider,” Tim Katz, Director of Sports Partnerships for the Americas at YouTube, said in a statement.
YouTube TV last month announced a similar deal with a new MLS club — the Los Angeles Football Club, as the service became the official home for the team’s locally-televised English language matches as part of a multi-year deal that also included a jersey sponsorship.
YouTube TV launched last April, providing cord-cutters with another option to stream programming without a cable box. Beginning March 13, the price for new subscribers will be $40 per month. Subscribers who sign up before March 13 can do so for $35 per month, and the Sounders happen to open their season March 4 against the Los Angeles Football Club.