LONDON (Brand Republic) - Granada Media has invested £20m in a joint venture with Liverpool FC, which will bring coverage of the Premier League club鈥檚 football matches to the internet.
The venture, dubbed Liverpool FC Broadband, will use the club鈥檚 global media and commercial rights to offer delayed coverage of matches on a new web portal, mobile devices and digital television. There will also be online betting and sales of merchandise.
The deal will start with the redevelopment of Liverpool鈥檚 existing website. Revenue for the new portal will come from advertising, e-commerce, sponsors and subscriptions to some of the services, according to Granada Media鈥檚 chief executive Steve Morrison.
The service should be launched for UK users within the next 18 months, and will be developed over the next five years.
Granada Media has a 9.9% stake in the football club, worth £22m.