FanDuel TV, the television network of operator FanDuel, has announced the launch of FanDuel TV Extra, a new free streaming channel.
FanDuel claims its new free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel shows more live sports than any other FAST channel currently out there, making it the “premier destination” for sports fans looking to watch and bet concurrently.
FanDuel TV Extra is currently available through streaming platforms such as Pluto TV and the Roku Channel. It’s also accessible through FanDuel’s over-the-top streaming platform FanDuel TV+.
Bettors can access coverage of international basketball from countries such as China and Turkey, as well as football from the South Korean K-League. Also available will be Professional Darts Corporation and PokerStars events.
Having launched FanDuel TV back in September 2022, executive producer and senior vice-president Kevin Grigsby believes the new channel will help with customer acquisition. Grigsby also revealed that it was looking to add the channel to more FAST providers in the near future.
“Launching FanDuel TV Extra was another important step in expanding distribution for FanDuel TV content and reaching new audiences,” Grigsby said. “Our research showed a large portion of our target audience already consume content on FAST.
“Airing over 12 hours of live sports a day that can be wagered on significantly differentiates our channel in the market and allows us to reach a new cohort of passionate sports fans and bettors.”
FanDuel looking to tap into watch-and-wager potential
A recent YouGov survey highlighted the growing role of streaming live sports in operators’ customer acquisition strategies.
Nearly tw-thirds (63%) of those surveyed outlined that the ability to live stream sports would make them either much more likely or somewhat more likely to use an operators’ app.
ESPN Bet launched in November last year, boasting the backing of Disney-owned ESPN, which is the largest US sports media brand. The ESPN+ streaming service has 25 million subscribers, and the YouGov survey found that 74% of current sports bettors were aware of the service.
As a result, the YouGov survey outlined that ESPN Bet could achieve “sustained growth” as it benefits from the appeal of watching and wagering.
FanDuel looking to build on 2023 success
FanDuel will hope its new platform can help it achieve further growth, adding to what Peter Jackson, chief executive of FanDuel’s owner Flutter Entertainment, labelled a “tremendous” performance from the operator in 2023.
Jackson’s comment came after FanDuel posted full-year positive annual adjusted EBITDA in the US for the first time in 2023. Jackson claims that FanDuel’s success has left Flutter as the market leader in the US.
Flutter’s US operations achieved a 2023 net gaming revenue market share of 53.4%, an increase on the 43.2% reported in 2022. Further adjusted EBITDA in the US stood at $167m (£133.2m/€$154.8m), a sharp increase from the $263m posted in 2022.
