Fifa's latest foray into the influencer world is proving to be a lucrative and far-reaching move. The World Cup this year will be the first major sporting event to heavily incorporate digital creators, with an avalanche of posts expected from popular TikTok personalities.
The deal marks a turning point in sports coverage as Fifa seeks to tap into the creator economy's ability to reach younger audiences and generate buzz around events. With influencers playing a crucial role in shaping the conversation around sports, the platform promises to bring fans "closer to the action" than ever before.
In tandem with this move, Dazn has been exploring similar partnerships for its own sporting events. The streaming service has successfully enlisted a range of creators to post behind-the-scenes content and interviews, generating significant engagement among its audience.
According to reports, Fifa's creator platform is set to serve multiple purposes beyond mere promotion. It could become a new revenue stream, with the football federation taking a cut from advertising revenue on TikTok. Furthermore, it may offer an expanded reach for existing sponsorship deals, as well as establishing relationships that could ultimately lead to the acquisition of broadcast rights.
However, not everyone is convinced of the influencer's effectiveness in driving viewership growth. Franรงois Godard, a media research expert, notes that traditional TV viewing among younger demographics has actually decreased over the past decade, suggesting sports' unique advantage lies in its live nature and lack of alternatives.
Additionally, Fifa's partnership with TikTok appears to be complicated by existing rights deals with traditional broadcasters. A sublicense deal with Fox, for instance, remains unresolved, while the BBC and ITV hold joint broadcasting rights in the UK.
Despite these complexities, Fifa seems determined to harness the influencer economy to shape its World Cup coverage. As a result, the stage is set for an unprecedented level of engagement from digital creators โ with fans eagerly anticipating the influx of exclusive content on TikTok.
The deal marks a turning point in sports coverage as Fifa seeks to tap into the creator economy's ability to reach younger audiences and generate buzz around events. With influencers playing a crucial role in shaping the conversation around sports, the platform promises to bring fans "closer to the action" than ever before.
In tandem with this move, Dazn has been exploring similar partnerships for its own sporting events. The streaming service has successfully enlisted a range of creators to post behind-the-scenes content and interviews, generating significant engagement among its audience.
According to reports, Fifa's creator platform is set to serve multiple purposes beyond mere promotion. It could become a new revenue stream, with the football federation taking a cut from advertising revenue on TikTok. Furthermore, it may offer an expanded reach for existing sponsorship deals, as well as establishing relationships that could ultimately lead to the acquisition of broadcast rights.
However, not everyone is convinced of the influencer's effectiveness in driving viewership growth. Franรงois Godard, a media research expert, notes that traditional TV viewing among younger demographics has actually decreased over the past decade, suggesting sports' unique advantage lies in its live nature and lack of alternatives.
Additionally, Fifa's partnership with TikTok appears to be complicated by existing rights deals with traditional broadcasters. A sublicense deal with Fox, for instance, remains unresolved, while the BBC and ITV hold joint broadcasting rights in the UK.
Despite these complexities, Fifa seems determined to harness the influencer economy to shape its World Cup coverage. As a result, the stage is set for an unprecedented level of engagement from digital creators โ with fans eagerly anticipating the influx of exclusive content on TikTok.