Facebook is placing a greater emphasis on its sports offering in 2019, as it moves to restructure its global sports division, which will be led by former NBA executive Dan Reed as Vice President of Global Sports and Media Partnerships.
The social media giant has previously mapped out its intention to elevate its exclusive sports partnerships and content, even seeking to enter the Premier League broadcasting market.
Furthermore, Facebook leadership has previously outlined the need to diversify its content beyond posts and newsfeeds, as the tech giant seeks to reverse a decline in user engagement witnessed across its western markets.
Moving forward, Dan Reed will be tasked with accelerating Facebook’s global sports proposition and strategy, overseeing the development of key sports accounts, whilst further securing new sports media partnerships for Facebook’s key markets.
Reed will be supported by former Eurosport Chief Executive Peter Hutton who joined the US tech firm in March 2018 as a Director of Sports Programming and Live Partnerships for EMEA, Latin America and APAC regions.
Facebook’s North American sports development will be led by former Instagram executive Brandon Gayle, serving as Director of Sports Partnerships and Solutions.
During the course of 2018, Facebook tested a number of new features, seeking to develop community-led social enhancements for sports viewing.
In 2019, sports stakeholders will be monitoring Facebook movements closely. Yet to aggressively develop its sports profile, to date, Facebook has tested live content partnerships with the MLS and Univision LATAM, Spain’s La Liga for India, and streaming UEFA Champions League content for US audiences in partnership with Fox Sports.
