OneSoccer, a leading Canadian soccer streaming platform, has announced its new partnership with Octapixx Media. The Toronto-based production and studio services provider will now serve as the official studio and production control room partner for OneSoccer.
This collaboration will see Octapixx Media providing comprehensive production services across Canada for OneSoccer's coverage of various soccer games. These services include state-of-the-art broadcast technology and a full-service live sports broadcast studio based in Toronto.
OneSoccer holds domestic rights to several significant soccer events including- Canadian Premier League (CPL), Canadian Championship, friendly matches involving the Canadian men’s and women’s national teams and regional Concacaf competitions.
Octapixx Media is part of Protocol Group, which also includes media rights agency Protocol Sports Marketing and TV2GO International, a renowned production firm.
Transition from Mediapro Canada to Octapixx Media
The designation of being the official studio and production control room partner was previously held by Mediapro Canada. However, following a legal settlement with CSB (Canadian Soccer Business) last June, Mediapro remained as the TV production and technology support partner for OneSoccer only until 2024.
Lowell Conn, president of Protocol Group and Octapixx, said:
“Not only are we proud to serve OneSoccer from our brand-new facilities, but we also extend an invitation to the rest of Canada’s sports media to imagine how they can benefit from the latest advances in remote and on-site production that are now available in Canada via Octapixx.
“Now is an exciting time in Canadian soccer, and we are delighted to contribute to its success.”
Mediapro had launched One Soccer as an exclusive home for Canadian soccer coverage after securing a 10-year deal with CSB in 2019. This agreement granted them exclusive global rights to CPL home games of both men's & women's national teams along with the Canadian Championship. However, due to alleged contractual obligations not met by Mediapro including defaulting on most of its rights fees due for 2023 - CSB took back all broadcast rights from them earlier this year.
A major point of contention during this dispute was Mediapro’s inability to get Canada Soccer’s properties on mainstream media outlets other than Telus, a Canadian telecoms firm. Cable providers were unwilling to host the OneSoccer platform on their services.
Future of OneSoccer
OneSoccer is currently operated by Timeless Inc, a Canadian company owned by Scott Michell who is also the chairman of CPL and CSB. This came about after Mediapro Canada, a regional subsidiary of Spanish sports media rights and production agency, sold it last year.
The settlement with Mediapro Canada led to the transfer of all "OneSoccer online service, intellectual property, and all associated rights" to Timeless Inc., which now owns the One Soccer TV channel.
With this new partnership with Octapixx Media in place, fans can look forward to enhanced coverage of soccer games across Canada. This marks an exciting new chapter for both companies as they work together to bring high-quality soccer content to viewers nationwide.
