JOHOR BHARU, 29 Jan 2018:
Malaysian football teams should no longer have any more excuse of being short of cash for player salaries and operational expenses as of this year, warned FA of Malaysia (FAM) president Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim – more affectionately known as TMJ.
The Johor crown prince today said one main obstacle to local football teams being able to attract enough sponsorship has always been insufficient exposure beyond stadium walls – and this is expected to change with a deal signed today between video streaming service iflix and Football Malaysia LLP (FMLLP) – operator and regulator of Malaysia’s professional football league and competitions.
“As the overall governing body for Malaysia’s favourite sport, FAM also has to play its part in increasing exposure for local football teams. This deal between FMLLP and iflix should make it easier for teams to get sponsors.”
FMLLP chief executive officer Kevin Ramalingam said the deal will see almost all football matches under its purview being streamed live on iflix, with catch-up viewing also offered – free for the 2018 season.
Football fans everywhere will be able to livestream every Liga Super, Piala Malaysia and marquee Piala FA matches on the all new ‘Football Malaysia on iflix’ channel.
From Feb 3, fans have access to the entire professional football season – including 22 rounds with six matches weekly for Liga Super, 74 Piala FA and Piala Malaysia tournament matches as well as select Liga Premier matches and the Piala Sumbangsih match.
In addition to live streamed matches, users will also be able to access new features including match highlights and player interviews.
As a part of the companies’ joint mission to bring football back to the people, he said anyone with access to the Internet will be able to livestream four Liga Super matches every week along with 46 tournament matches and select Liga Premier matches for free, regardless of their subscription status.
While a decision on iflix charges for this live football match has yet been made for next year’s season and thereafter, he said any such fee has been capped at RM20 monthly.
In return, iflix will invest at least RM300 million over the next 10 years for the project – with the bulk of the amount going towards production costs for live streaming and other video content revolving around the football teams and players.
A portion of this iflix contribution will also be used to provide income to the football teams, he added.
For fans of Malaysian football beyond our shores – given that iflix is now available in over 20 countries – iflix Malaysia CEO Jason Monteiro said the group will try to ensure as many of the matches as possible will be streamed live for free – adding that fees for other matches had yet to be fixed.
“Research has shown there are about eight million TV screens in Malaysian homes while they own about 20 million smartphones, This already means a bigger audience for Malaysian football matches here, watching with the iflix app on their smartphones.”
TMJ concluded: “Football is the people’s game. It brings us together and can help to unite us. Malaysians everywhere should be able to enjoy it without restriction. With iflix, we have found like-minded partners and a key common goal; to return football to the people and restore its former glory.”
