Cristiano Ronaldo offered chance to cash in as Saudi Pro League unveils new streaming model

A fresh scheme launched by the Saudi Pro League will give stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo the opportunity to turn their social media popularity into revenue.

Under the initiative, players and content creators will be able to share links to individual Pro League matches or game bundles on their channels and claim a share of the income generated.

That could prove highly lucrative for Ronaldo should he opt to participate, given his audience of over one billion followers across social platforms. The Portuguese forward joined Al Nassr in 2022, but has hinted the current season may be his last before retirement.

Anyone clicking a link shared by Ronaldo or any other partner in the ‘Share and Earn’ initiative will be taken to a league-owned streaming service.

Selected publishers will also be allowed to host official Pro League live and on-demand broadcasts directly on their own platforms, subject to league authorisation. This works in a similar way to the Bundesliga’s UK partnerships involving YouTuber Mark Goldbridge and Burnley striker Jamie Vardy.

In that scenario, the stream for the fixture or fixtures would be embedded directly within an approved partner’s platform.

The United Kingdom and Ireland are among 16 territories where shared content can be viewed, alongside Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Canada, New Zealand, Serbia, South Korea, Malta, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Cyprus and Greece.

“The way people discover, consume and engage with sport is changing rapidly,” Omar Mugharbel, the league’s chief executive, said.

“Fans are increasingly connected to competitions, clubs and players through digital platforms and the creators and communities they trust.

“For generations, sports distribution has largely been a relationship between rights holders and broadcasters. Developments in technology and the growth of the creator economy give us an opportunity to add another dimension to that relationship – one in which a broader network of partners can help connect our football with fans and participate in that growth.

“By democratising both access and distribution, we can bring live RSL football closer to international fans while giving approved content creators, our clubs and players, and other distribution partners a genuine stake in helping us reach new audiences.

“For the SPL, this is an opportunity to innovate, learn and build new relationships with the people and platforms shaping how sport is discovered and consumed around the world.

“As we continue to grow internationally, we want to explore new models that bring fans and the league closer together while creating shared value as our international audience expands.”