Saudi Pro League’s New Streaming Model Could Boost Cristiano Ronaldo’s Earnings

A new scheme launched by the Saudi Pro League gives the star players in the league like Cristiano Ronaldo the opportunity to turn their social media popularity into revenue. Under the new scheme, all the players and content creators are permitted to share the links to individual Pro League matches or game bundles on their social media handles and claim a share of the revenue generated from it.

This could prove to be highly lucrative for Ronaldo if he chooses to participate, since he has a fan following of more than one billion across all his social media platforms. The Portuguese forward joined the Saudi-based Club AI Nassr in 2022, however he has hinted that the current season might be his last before he hangs up his boots.

Anyone who clicks the link shared by Ronaldo or any other partner in the ‘Share and Earn’ initiative will be taken to the league-owned streaming service platform. And only a few selected publishers will also be allowed to host the official Pro League Live and on-demand broadcasts directly on their own platform, 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 steam for the fixtures would be embedded directly within the approved partner’s platform.

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

The Saudi League’s chief executive Omar Mugharbel said, “The way people discover and engage with sport is changing rapidly. Fans are increasingly connected to competitions, clubs and players through digital platforms and the creators and communities they trust.”

He further quipped, “For generations, sports distribution has largely been a relationship between right 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."