LG Channels is enhancing the content collection on its free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST), adding on Friday the NFL Channel to its lineup.
The NFL Channel touts a variety of football-centric content like classic game broadcasts, NFL Films shows and live programming – including “Fantasy GameDay Live: and “NFL GameCenter.” Both programs will keep viewers up to date on the latest scores and league-related news.
The channel also features past seasons of “Hard Knocks” – a reality sports documentary series produced by NFL Films and HBO – replays of memorable NFL matchups and more.
"We created our LG Channels streaming service to provide a robust selection of free content to LG Smart TV owners,” stated Matthew Durgin, senior director of content services at LG. “The opportunity to collaborate with the NFL and offer the NFL Channel provides a significant added value and truly elevates the LG Channels experience for our customers.”
LG Channels earlier this month added five new FAST channels, one of which included Estrella TV, a Spanish-language focused network. Estrella TV is one of three Estrella Media FAST channels that are being made available on LG smart TVs.
FAST is gaining traction among consumers who don’t mind ads. An LG Ads study from August found a majority of viewers think FAST ads are shorter and more relevant than those on cable or satellite TV.
Cost and ease of access are also key drivers for consumer FAST adoption, Beachfront Head of Demand Katie Long noted at last month’s StreamTV Advertising Summit.
NFL content is at the forefront of peoples’ minds, as the football season kicked off earlier this month. Thursday Night Football premiered on Amazon Prime Video on September 15, drawing 13 million U.S. viewers, according to Nielsen.
This NFL season is also the last one in which DirecTV will host the NFL Sunday Ticket, as the sports package is headed to a streaming service next year. The rights for the Sunday Ticket are rumored to be valued at nearly $3 billion.
DirecTV’s Sunday Ticket coverage ran into hurdles the past couple of weeks, with numerous DirecTV customers reporting issues when trying to watch the games.