David Farnor | On 24, Oct 2015

Match of the Day will become the first TV show in the UK to use Facebook live-streaming this weekend.

Live-streaming has become a buzz topic for the online video world, with both Periscope and Meerkat squaring off against each other. Into the fray, though, has stepped Facebook. The social network, which now generates 4 billion views of its video content a day, is keen to establish itself as a threat to YouTube, but part of that is streaming videos live. Only recently, Facebook launched its own service just for that: Facebook Mentions. The only catch is that, unlike Meerkat and Periscope, which allow anyone to broadcast instantly to the world, streaming is only available to public figures with Facebook pages.

With Periscope proving very popular, thanks to its connection with Twitter and open, accessible platform, Facebook Mentions has not gained any traction in the UK at all – but Match of the Day will be the first Facebook page outside the USA to stream a live broadcast on the social network today, using the site to reveal the running order for the weekend’s show.

Gary Lineker will explain to viewers who has been picked to start the show and why in a exclusive live-stream that will go out shortly after the late game between Arsenal and Everton. The stream will also include behind-the-scenes coverage of the show with guests.

“We are really looking forward to Gary Lineker revealing the much-anticipated running order live to fans across the country on Saturday night,” said Mark Cole, lead executive for BBC Football.

“Even though Match of the Day is one of the oldest sports shows on television, celebrating our 50th birthday last year, social media plays an important part of our coverage, both in how we integrate into broadcast and how we use it to support the BBC’s extensive multi-platform football coverage.”

How many people are likely to tune in? Match of the Day’s Facebook page currently has over 3 million fans – 1.64 million of which are based in the UK, according to the BBC, with Manchester United the only Premier League club to boast more.

To see the live-stream tonight, head to www.facebook.com/BBCMOTD

 

Photo: BBC/Andrew Hayes-Watkins/Matthew Burlem

 

Add to Watchlist