Disney+ has secured broadcasting rights to Gary Neville’s popular soccer podcast network in a multimillion-pound agreement that marks the latest move in a streaming competition for sports content. The deal includes 40 episodes of “Stick to Football” and 50 episodes of a new Manchester United-focused show titled “Stick to United,” which will be hosted by Wayne Rooney and content creator Mark Goldbridge. The new programming is set to launch ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season.
While the partnership represents a significant commercial opportunity for Neville and his team, the announcement has drawn mixed reactions from the soccer community on social media. Some viewers questioned the decision to partner with an American streaming service, with one critic suggesting the arrangement demonstrates a lack of understanding about the sport. Others characterized the deal as unconventional, with fans expressing concerns about the shows being moved behind a paywall and worrying that the transition to corporate ownership could negatively impact content quality.
Most episodes of both shows will remain available free on YouTube during the upcoming season. However, Disney+ will have exclusive first access to six episodes of “Stick to Football” before they eventually appear on YouTube. The deal comes as Netflix recently secured rights to Gary Lineker’s podcast “The Rest Is Football,” indicating growing competition among major streaming platforms for sports media content.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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