Australian football needs to further explore the potential of Twitch

Twitch continues to be one of the world’s leading platforms to live stream content and Australian football should build their presence on the service.

The FFA launched the E-League in 2018, a competitive Esports league where professional gamers played and represented A-League clubs in the FIFA video game series.

The league is broadcast on the Amazon subsidiary Twitch, with viewing numbers impressive across the board.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the opening night of the E-League saw 138,000 people tuning into the show, a figure which was bigger than most A-League games in the past few years.

Speaking at the time of the launch, former FFA head of commercial, digital and marketing, Luke Bould, explained that the idea behind the E-League was to attract a younger audience and build awareness of the A-League’s brand.

“We’re being entrepreneurial, we’re taking a risk. We have to be there and for us it’s a strategic advantage, there’s a million plus people playing this game and we don’t have enough fans of the A-League. We can try and influence them through this media,” he told SMH.

Bould claimed the E-league’s opening night attracted a larger social media following than any other streamed event covered by the FFA (including Bert van Marwijk’s unveiling before the 2018 World Cup).

“That’s the strongest thing we’ve ever done in terms of social platforms, whether it’s live press conferences, it’s by far the strongest thing we’ve ever done,” he said.

Fast forward two years, the E-League now has over 6,000 followers on Twitch and just under four million video views.

The Esports competition has engaged fans successfully on Twitch, but there are more options that Australian football can take advantage of on the platform.

Those in charge could develop strategies to encourage the sizeable E-League fanbase to further engage with real life A-League content, on the same service.

The issue is, there is no official A-League account on the live-streaming service.

The absence of this could be seen as a missed opportunity.

La Liga recently became one of the first major European sports competitions to join Twitch.

On the service, they now broadcast behind the scene’s footage, preview and review shows, special programs on featured players in the competition and much more.

The Spanish competition’s partnership with Twitch also allows for collaboration opportunities which benefits the streaming community.

Could the A-League enter a similar partnership on a smaller scale?

Since Fox Sports has currently cut back on producing A-League magazine shows, it could address a current hole in the market.

Producing exclusive real-life content on Twitch could also see more young football fans flocking to the platform, in addition to those who are already interested in the E-League competition.

It helps that Twitch is an extremely popular platform for a young audience (a market which Australian football administrators are currently targeting), particularly male.

According to Globalwebindex, 73% of Twitch users are aged between 16-34, with 65% of all users being male.

Another possibility for the Australian game is to follow the likes of famous clubs such as Real Madrid and Juventus, as well as leagues such as the English Premier League, in broadcasting live matches on the platform.

Real Madrid and Juventus have their own channels on the service and they have broadcast friendlies and youth team matches.

The English Premier League live-streamed matches on Twitch for UK users earlier this year for the first time.

With murmurs that the FFA Cup is set to be broadcast on YouTube next season, it may not be the worst idea to showcase some of those games on Twitch instead.

It would open up potential commercial opportunities for the present and the future, on a platform where Australian football needs to increase its visibility.

It could not only benefit A-League clubs, but also maximize the exposure for NPL clubs competing in the cup competition.

If Australian football is serious about its focus on engaging a digital audience, Twitch needs to be further entrenched in its plans.

Previous ArticleNext Article

Football Victoria Welcomes AquaMe as Hydration Tech Partner

Football Victoria (FV) is excited to announce its partnership with AquaMe, with cutting-edge hydration technology for the next generation of upcoming footballers.

AQUAME is a cutting-edge smart water bottle system designed to meet the demands of today’s athletes. By combining advanced sensor technology with a sleek, user-friendly design, AQUAME supports personalised hydration management tailored to individual needs.

FV’s Executive Manager of Commercial, Chris Speldewinde, welcomed the partnership with open arms.

‘We’re thrilled to be aligning with AQUAME, whose focus on innovation and athlete well-being aligns perfectly with our academy’s mission to prepare players for the highest level,” he said via press release.

As part of the onboarding process, each FV Academy player has received their own AQUAME 2.0 Smart Water Bottle, along with access to the AQUAME PRO App.

This innovative system empowers players to track and maintain their hydration—from pre-training preparation to post-match recovery—using the same elite tools trusted by professional clubs such as Valencia CF, Deportivo Alavés, and the Mexico National Team.

By analysing both real-time and historical hydration data, AQUAME helps address the risks of both over- and under-hydration, ensuring each athlete maintains optimal hydration levels.

This data-driven approach provides deeper insights into the causes of dehydration, enabling teams to take proactive steps and prevent issues before they occur.

The integration of AQUAME into the FV Academy program marks a proactive step in equipping young athletes for the demands of high-performance sport, while promoting lifelong healthy hydration habits.

AQUAME Executive Steve Xie also shared his enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting the shared commitment to athlete wellbeing and innovation.

“Partnering with Football Victoria allows us to support the next wave of football talent with technology proven to enhance performance and recovery,” he said via press release.

To mark the launch of this exciting collaboration, AQUAME is also offering all Football Victoria families an exclusive 10% discount on the AQUAME 2.0 Smart Water Bottle and App.

Use code FOOTBALLVIC at checkout via the link below to access a special offer and experience the latest innovative technology in hydration.

AquaMe x FV Special Offer

Football NSW have announced new partnership with tech giant

Veo

Football NSW has confirmed a three-year partnership with the world’s leading AI-powered sports camera company VEO, aiming to transform how football is viewed and shared across the state.

Football NSW has teamed up with Veo in a new partnership that will enhance its high-performance and talent development programs across the state.

Programs such as the State Teams, Talent Support Program (TSP), and Future Sapphires will now have access to Veo’s cutting-edge technology and tools, supporting player development through better performance analysis and insights.

As part of the deal, these programs will be equipped with the latest Veo Cam 3 5G cameras, along with access to a suite of Veo software, including Veo Analytics, Veo Live for live streaming, Veo Editor for video breakdown, and Player Spotlight to highlight individual performances.

The partnership also introduces the “Veo League Exchange” across competitions like the NPL NSW, Football NSW Leagues, Youth Leagues, and Futsal Premier Leagues.

This platform allows clubs to upload, share, and study match footage, giving coaches and players valuable tools to learn, improve, and raise the overall standard of competition.

Football NSW CEO John Tsatsimas expressed his delight and excitement with the newly formed partnership with Veo.

“Veo are an excellent resource for the game, and I am delighted to see this partnership help and assist our Football NSW clubs and the wider football and futsal community,” he said via press release.

“With the game constantly evolving, Veo provides a unique opportunity for clubs to increase the analytical side with the aim to further improve training and match day tactics.”

ANZ Market Manager at Veo Technologies Tenzing Tsewang was also looking forward to partnering with Football NSW.

“This partnership with Football NSW is a milestone in our mission to support the future of football in Australia,” he said via press release.

“We’re already working with an incredible lineup of clubs across NSW, and this collaboration allows us to expand that impact — giving more coaches, players, and families access to the tools they need to develop, improve, and tell their stories.”

As a part of the partnership, Football NSW and Veo will release a series of initiatives that include exclusive access to Veo products, hands-on workshops, special pricing for clubs, and tailored support for technical and performance staff.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend