Rugby Network shortlisted alongside Olympics for PLATFORM OF THE YEAR.
October 4, 2021
Jonny Lewis
The Rugby Network shortlisted for Platform of the Year alongside Olympics.com
This past year I’ve been editing Rugby Wrap Up TV shows for the new Rugby Network streaming platform. So it’s great to hear news that The Rugby Network has been shortlisted alongside The Olympics for PLATFORM OF THE YEAR and BEST NEW PLATFORM at this years SportsPro #OTTAwards 2021 .
In PLATFORM OF THE YEAR The rugby Network goes up against Olympics.com , DAZN , Optus Sport , UFC FIGHT PASS and Tennis Channel International .
In the BEST NEW PLATFORM award The Rugby Network is in the shortlist with LNB.TV , Olympics.com , Ekstraklasa.TV , Buzzer and Launching The Olympics On Discovery+
The Rugby Network – Powering the Growth in North American Rugby.
A 2020 Octagon study commissioned by Major League Rugby revealed that awareness and familiarity with Major League Rugby did not always translate into TV viewership and the primary driver to increase sports fans’ interest and engagement with MLR was making it easier to watch matches in North America.
MLR tackled this issue by partnering with RugbyPass to create a dedicated digital home for Rugby in North America – The Rugby Network. The Rugby Network was built around a succinct vision and purpose: To support the growth of Rugby in the US through a centralized, fan-centric approach to awareness and engagement.
MLR and RugbyPass built an interconnected network of digital properties driving interest & engagement in Rugby, guided by four key principles:
1. Free access (removing all barriers to access and eliminating piracy)
2. An Inclusive network covering all aspects of rugby in North America
3. Content that appeals to all fan segments (from avid fans to prospective fans)
4. Grow the sport and drive the business of Major League Rugby/its member teams
In just its first season, The Rugby Network exceeded all its performance goals via its website and apps on iOS, Android and Roku:
● More than 45,000 registered subscribers
● More than 10.6 million minutes of live and on-demand Rugby consumed
● Seasonal streaming audience increased 383% versus the legacy third-party OTT provider (ESPN+) with the average viewership/match rising an incredible 76% year-on-year
● Despite lower linear TV ratings, Octagon sports tracker revealed a 30% increase in the size of the overall rugby fan base and 21% increase in MLR awareness since the launch of TRN.
Sports Pro OTT Awards
You can watch the latest Rugby Wrap Up and The Rugby Network content I’ve edited here