The week in over-the-top provides a recap of recent news related to streaming initiatives in the U.S. from various networks and platforms.
* Twitter Inc. signed a three-year content deal with the Major League Soccer. As part of the deal, Twitter will live stream 24 matches in 2018 in the U.S. in English, according to a March 9 news release. In addition to live, on-demand content, the agreement includes match highlights and other features.
* Facebook Inc. expanded its partnership with Major League Baseball for the 2018 MLB season. Under the deal, the 25-game package of weekly broadcasts will be distributed exclusively on Facebook Watch in the U.S. via the MLB Live show page, according to a March 9 post on MLB.com.
* Google Inc.'s YouTube TV expanded its partnership with Major League Baseball. YouTube TV will serve as the presenting sponsor of the 2018 and 2019 World Series and will also team up with the MLB on a new season-long sponsorship, dubbed "First Pitch," according to a March 8 news release.
* Netflix Inc. is in advanced talks with former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, for a deal to produce exclusive content for the streaming service, The New York Times reported March 8, citing sources with knowledge of the talks. Under one possible scenario, Barack could moderate discussions on topics such as healthcare, voting and climate change, while another program could feature Michelle taking on topics like nutrition. The Obamas could also back documentaries and fictional content, according to the report.
In other platform news
* Netflix will premiere its first Korean original stand-up comedy special "Yoo Byungjae: Too Much Information" on March 16, the company said. The series will be available for streaming on Netflix internationally.
* Netflix will stream "1983," its first Polish original series, globally later this year. This eight-episode series, which is currently in production, features Robert Wieckiewicz and Maciej Musial as a disgraced police investigator and an idealistic law student who stumble upon a conspiracy that changed the course of the nation and kept the Iron Curtain standing, the company said March 7.
* Discovery Communications Inc. is considering developing a global streaming service for its reality, nature and lifestyle programming, London's Financial Times reported March 6. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said there was an opportunity for a global service because "almost all other subscription video-on-demand services look the same."
* In more Netflix news, the company green-lighted its third Colombian original series, "Distrito Salvaje." The 10-episode series, which will be available to Netflix members in the Americas in 2018, follows guerrilla fighter who escapes the jungle after the signing of the Colombian Peace Agreements, the company said March 6.
