Manchester United to launch pay-to-view app across 165 countries

The English Premier League outfit is to offer a subscription application for fans around the world with service available on Apple and Google Play stores.

Manchester United's Paul Pogba heads the ball against Sunderland's Billy Jones at Old Trafford on February 15, 2017, Oli Scarff / AFP

Manchester United is launching a subscription based app for its MUTV channel across 165 countries to help fans follow news and content about the English Premier League football club.

The app, available on Apple and Google Play stores, has a monthly subscription fee which varies by country, the club said on Thursday.

The app will offer live commentary and near live broadcasts of all Manchester United matches, post match interviews with players and manager Jose Mourinho and will also include analysis by former players.

The app will have a subscription fee of US$5.99 per month in the United States, the club said. It will not be available in the United Kingdom because of competition and partner rights restrictions. It was unclear wher else there may be restrictions.

United, the English champions 20 times, says it has 659 million followers around the world.

The club, known as the Red Devils, said this month it was on course to meet its full-year financial targets as it posted an 18 per cent rise in second-quarter revenue despite its absence from the lucrative Champions League.

United, whose best known players include Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, have reached the English League Cup final.

“The robustness of our business model continues to be reflected in our strong quarterly financial results and we remain on track to deliver record revenues for the year,” said the executive vice chairman Ed Woodward.

Revenue increased by 18 per cent to £157.9 million (Dh724.8m) in the three months to the end of December, with big increases for matchday and broadcast income.

Matchday revenue for the three months climbed 27 per cent to £38.6m as the team played three more home games at Old Trafford across all competitions.

Broadcasting revenue soared almost 41 per cent to £52.5m, helped by a new broadcasting rights agreement for the Premier League. Commercial revenue – the largest component – edged up by 1 per cent.

The club’s adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose to£69m in the three months to the end of December, from £56.1m a year earlier.

*Agencies

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