YouTube and Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) have signed what has been called “the first partnership of its kind in North American professional sports”, enabling fans of LAFC to view matches via live streams as well as seeing the YouTube brand’s presence increase enormously.

A designated YouTube TV channel will see fans tune in to catch the action through a subscription service to enjoy streaming of thirty of LAFC’s 34 games, including 30-minute pre-game and post-game shows. This coverage will be geo-streamed, meaning only those in Southern California will be able to access the service.

Becoming the first digital-only offering to become the official video partner of a US sports team, YouTube’s Director of Sports Partnerships, Tim Katz, said: “LAFC is reimagining the sports landscape in the same innovative way we strive to reimagine the live TV experience. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with LAFC to be the exclusive home for all locally televised matches and to share our name on the front of their jerseys.”

Angela Courtin, Global Head of YouTube TV, added: “We can offer both the nationally televised games and have the ability to bring local programming through our service. We want to continue to push those boundaries.”