BeIN Sports Xtra lands on Pluto

Free-to-air channel beIN Sports Xtra has launched on ViacomCBS’s Pluto TV in the US. 

The channel initially launched in November 2019 on the Roku Channel, utilising beIN’s existing English and Spanish feed to drive awareness of the brand and content “that would otherwise be crowded out of the live premiere window given the extensive rights offering in the US.”

Since that initial launch, in 2020 alone the channel has launched on Samsung TV Plus and Xumo.

Pluto TV has more than 20 million monthly active users and offers access to more than 250 live and original channels.

Antonio Briceño, beIN Sports deputy managing director for North America said: “It’s an exciting moment for us at beIN Sports as we sustain the momentum of beIN Sports Xtra’s launch with the addition of Pluto TV. “With this addition, we further expand our US digital footprint to well over 100 million devices by reaching Pluto TV’s millions of active monthly users. We look forward to providing these users with a consistent LIVE sampling of our world-class content highlighted this month by LIVE coverage of the Women’s Tennis Association Qatar Open Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Final, which run from February 27 – 29, as well as ongoing LaLiga, Ligue 1, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, and Turkish SüperLig soccer matches.

Amy Kuessner, SVP of content and global partnerships at Pluto TV, said: “beIN Sports Xtra is a natural fit to our lineup, bringing all of the action and adrenaline that comes from the live streaming of premium sporting events to Pluto TV. Their stellar lineup of sports programming, that includes a highly coveted European fútbol lineup, along with the technical prowess to power live streaming, is guaranteed to excite Pluto TV’s ever-growing audience.”

Elsewhere, beIN has acquired the rights to the 2020 Pakistan Super League in Australia and Asia. The deal will see beIN Sports broadcast the tournament’s 34 matches in Australia, with highlights being broadcast in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, East Timor and Hong Kong.

Mike Kerr, managing director, beIN Asia Pacific said: “In a major year for Twenty20 cricket in Australia, we’re delighted to have secured the live rights to the 2020 Pakistan Super League further expanding our sports offering to subscribers in the country.”