Fans of Canadian football, or football in general, rejoice. It will be possible to watch CFL games for free in Asia this year. The league announced that all 81 regular season games as well as the Grey Cup Playoffs and 110th Grey Cup can be streamed using CFL+.
The streaming service will be available on desktop and mobile devices. No additional downloads or login services are required, and you won’t have to purchase anything to watch live games. That’s the good news. Now time for the bad.
While you may be able to watch CFL games for free in Asia, they can only be viewed on mobile phones, tablets or desktop computers. Chromecast and other devices won’t be supported by CFL+. You could, in theory, use an app or HDMI cable to get them on a television.
Additionally, Canadian football games won’t be made available on demand. You either watch them live or not at all. Wraparound content, such as pre- and post-game shows will not be shown. It’s also unlikely that overseas viewers will receive any sort of halftime show.
You can learn more about CFL+ here.
Interesting Analysis
Even with the restrictions, being able to watch CFL games for free in Asia is awesome. Watching sports here is a major pain point unless it involves soccer, golf or the NBA in certain countries. Coverage of MLB, NHL and NFL is spotty at best when it comes to traditional cable TV.
This forces fans to either shell out for expensive league-centric streaming packages or scour the internet for illegal broadcasts. Some OTC offerings like DAZN and beIN Sports exist, although these have gaps in terms of offerings.
The CFL providing free direct-to-consumer streaming is something more leagues should take note of. Most people won’t pay to watch the league. They just aren’t that invested in it. However, I will definitely be checking out games this season on CFL+ since there is no cost involved.
Now, if only someone would broadcast college football in Asia apart from the Pac-12 Network.
Also Interesting: beIN SPORTS secures rights in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong
