The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has launched a new "Share and Earn" initiative, offering players and influencers an opportunity to earn revenue by promoting livestreams of matches on social media. This programme allows participants to share links to broadcasts of the league and receive a share of revenue for each click.
The initiative is designed to provide an additional income stream for players, including high-profile stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Gabriel Martinelli, and Ivan Toney. Ronaldo, who has over 1 billion followers across social media platforms, could find this a particularly lucrative venture.
Omar Mugharbel, CEO of the Saudi Pro League, stated that the way people engage with sport is changing, with fans increasingly connecting through digital platforms and trusted creators. He added that this initiative aims to broaden the network of partners connecting football with fans and participating in the league's growth.
This move by the SPL mirrors an approach seen in the Bundesliga, which features select games as watchalongs on podcasts. Mugharbel noted that by democratising access and distribution, the SPL seeks to bring live football closer to international fans while giving approved content creators, clubs, and players a stake in reaching new audiences.