Twitter Inc. and the National Football League said they are
forming a multiyear partnership to deliver official NFL video and
other related content, extending a pact that began in 2013 through
Twitter Amplify.
The companies plan to offer official NFL content created for the
Twitter platform over the Internet and on mobile devices. Under the
agreement, Twitter users will have access to significantly more NFL
content than before.
Twitter has been seeking to be a bigger player in live events as
the social-media company looks to attract a larger number of
average Internet users.
In a release Monday, the firms cited Nielsen Co. data that
indicates the 2014 NFL regular season reached 202.3 million unique
viewers, representing 80% of all television homes and 68% of
potential viewers in the U.S.
The agreement comes as Twitter is seeking a new chief executive
to replace Dick Costolo, who stepped down in June. A Twitter
executive who has emerged as a possible successor to Mr. Costolo,
Anthony Noto, has past ties to the NFL, where he served as
financial chief from 2008 to 2010. Mr. Noto has been credited with
bringing the NFL out of financial turmoil and restructuring a labor
deal between team owners and players.
On Friday, The Wall Street Journal also reported that Mr.
Costolo may step down from Twitter's board once his permanent
replacement is hired.
Twitter's board also includes former bosses and co-founders Ev
Williams and Jack Dorsey, who is currently interim CEO. The Journal
reported that in its present state, the new CEO would have to
report to a board that includes three predecessors, two of which
are co-founders. To attract the best candidate, the board would
consider replacing Mr. Costolo, the Journal reported.
Write to Tess Stynes at tess.stynes@wsj.com
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