TikTok partners with COPA90 in effort to bring fan-first content to the platform

Avatar

TikTok has partnered with COPA90 as the lead content partner to bring fan-first football content to its communities in an effort to cement its position as the home of fandom for football culture.

Global football media company COPA90 is working with TikTok and a diverse selection of key talent and influences from across Europe to produce a bold programme of innovative formats and original shows.

The intention of this content is to showcase the inspirational power of international tournaments, the melting pot of cultures and the collective creativity of fans in delivering a month-long celebration of football.

Already the entertainment has kicked off for the EURO 2020 tournament, with the ‘Get to Know’ segment featuring fans from each of the 24 participating nations sharing everything you need to know. The aptly-named ‘Starting XI’ segment encourages the audience to select a series of different starting teams following increasingly fun and challenging parameters.

Amongst the exciting content still to come is ‘The Flare Button’, TikTok’s first ever live, vertical, football studio format, providing the must-watch alternative to the traditional half-time broadcast show featuring ex-footballers, musicians, comedians and many more guests.

Additionally, COPA90 are rebooting their ground-breaking fan-first format ‘Fans Daily’, with 24 creators, one from each competing country, bringing together all the greatest fan moments from across the continent, delivered in under a minute.

The partnership builds on the wealth of football-related content already on TikTok. The platform is already a social hub for football fans, with 100M people across Europe using TikTok to share in football experiences every month, deliver comedic commentary and celebrate the most memorable moments of the beautiful game.

Head of Partnerships and Community for TikTok, James Stafford, was delighted at the prospect of teaming up with COPA90.

“Football on TikTok has had meteoric rise in the build-up to an exciting Summer of football, it has become a place where our community can follow their favourite football players, teams and creators as well as share their own unique football experiences,” he said.

“We are delighted to be working with COPA90, whose expertise and understanding of the modern football fan has resulted in new and dynamic content formats, bringing our community even more unique opportunities to engage throughout this iconic tournament.

“We are really looking forward to working with COPA90 to bring the spirit and passion of the competition to our community of football fans.”

COPA90 Chief Executive Tom Thirlwall on the agreement:

“TikTok is the perfect platform to capture the creativity and energy of football fans. We are thrilled to be bringing COPA90 formats and ethos to the TikTok community and look forward to sharing even more engaging and inspiring football content through the app.”

Previous ArticleNext Article

Football Queensland Academy leads Northern player development

Avatar
Football Queensland

Football Queensland (FQ) has celebrated a successful year of player development in the Northern region across youth and junior football through the FQ Academy.

The FQ Academy is Queensland’s only recognised way for players to achieve state and national team representation and showed significant progress over 2024. The Northern region covers some of Queensland’s rural major hubs, including Townsville, Charters Towers, Ayr and Ingham.

In the Northen region, over 150 players participated in the FQ Acadamy across the U9 to U16 age groups, illustrating the influence of adopting Football Australia’s latest national technical standards.

The success of the FQ Academy in the Northern region was further embellished through the selection of 10 local players in Queensland state teams, to compete at the Girls and Boys National Youth Championships in Melbourne and Wollongong.

FQ General Manager, Football & State Technical Director, Gabor Ganczer, expressed his joy for the achievements in the Northern region.

“2024 has been a tremendous year for football in the Northern region, with significant strides in player development as the FQ Academy continues to play a pivotal role in providing young athletes with access to world-class coaching and competitive platforms that continue to raise the standard of football in the region,” he said via press release.

“The progress seen throughout the region is the result of a sustained, long-term approach to player development, with a focus on upskilling coaches and equipping clubs with the tools and resources they need to ensure all players are supported at every stage of their journey.”  

FQ Senior Manager, Technical (Northern Conference), Michael Edwards applauded the work of the FQ Academy.

“The inclusion of local players in the Queensland state teams highlights the significant impact of the continued investment in Northern football programs, helping to elevate talented athletes to elite levels of competition,” he said in a press release.

“The foundation we’ve laid this year, with the FQ Academy at the forefront, will not only set the stage for greater success in the years to come but also drive the continued growth of football in the Northern region and beyond, ensuring clear and accessible pathways for all players to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.”  

Football Queensland remains committed to developing the level of coaching skill and to enhancing player development in the Northern region in 2025 and beyond.

Premier League’s 3pm Blackout Could End After 60 Years

Avatar
Image credit: Premier League

The long-standing 3pm broadcasting blackout for Premier League and EFL matches may soon be a thing of the past.

According to The Sun, the restriction could be lifted within the next five years, potentially reshaping the football viewing landscape in the UK.

The Current Situation

The blackout, which has been in place for six decades, prevents live broadcasting of games played at 3pm on Saturdays.

This rule aims to safeguard attendance at lower-league matches by encouraging fans to watch games in person rather than on television.

The Premier League’s new four-year broadcasting deal, set to begin next season, will maintain the blackout. However, both the Premier League and EFL agreements are scheduled to expire at the conclusion of the 2028-29 season, opening the door for significant changes.

Changing Perspectives

Traditionally seen as essential to protect matchday attendance, the blackout’s relevance is being questioned.

EFL studies suggest that televising matches has minimal impact on crowd numbers, challenging the necessity of the rule.

With a surge in live games on TV and digital platforms, the football community is increasingly debating whether the blackout is outdated.

Currently, the Premier League broadcasts 270 matches per season, leaving 110 games locked behind the blackout, and this has become increasingly controversial with local fans left frustrated at the fact they can’t watch all of their teams games.

Piracy Concerns

The blackout has inadvertently contributed to the rise in illegal streaming. Fans often resort to using devices like “cracked Fire Sticks” to watch Saturday 3pm matches, undermining the very attendance-focused intent of the restriction.

Recently, the Premier League have cracked down on piracy, threatening jail time and/or a large fine for anyone who illegally streams games that are affected by the blackout.

What’s Next?

Although the blackout remains in place for now, its future is under scrutiny. As midweek fixtures are exempt from the rule, every Premier League game this week is available for streaming on Amazon Prime.

The decision to lift the blackout will likely come as part of broader broadcasting negotiations, potentially marking the end of a long-standing tradition and redefining how fans experience English football.

With the rule being considered ‘outdated’ by many, the 2028-29 proposed change comes at the right time. Both the Premier League and the EFL can capitalise on an even bigger national TV rights deal, strengthening both leagues’ finances.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend