Manchester United has hired senior Yahoo executive Phil Lynch as its new chief executive of media as the English Premier League football club seeks to roll out a subscription-based application that will allow its in-house television channel, MUTV, to be available worldwide.
Lynch will be responsible for overseeing United’s digital media strategy, as well as the management and operations of MUTV and its new app, along with the club’s digital media partnerships and direct-to-consumer products.
Lynch joins United having served as global head/vice-president of content and media partnerships at internet giant Yahoo in California, overseeing more than 3,500 content partnerships across all areas, as well as the company’s digital distribution efforts.
During his tenure, Lynch was credited with developing Yahoo’s over the top live sports offering via securing broadcast rights and partnerships with the likes of American football league the NFL, ice hockey league the NHL, Major League Baseball and golf’s PGA Tour.
United’s group managing director Richard Arnold said: “Phil’s appointment is an important step in the evolution of our digital strategy. He has a wealth of experience at Yahoo and Sony Digital that will add real value and insight to our thinking.”
United last week confirmed that its new MUTV app will be available in 165 countries via the Apple and Google Play stores for a monthly subscription fee that varies by country. United said the app would be priced at $5.99 (€5.5) per month in the United States.
The MUTV app streams live or on-demand and features exclusive content such as live commentary and near live broadcasts of all United matches, pre- and post-match analysis and exclusive interviews, as well as press conferences, replays of classic United matches and documentaries.
The terms of media-rights deals with the Premier League will preclude the service being made available in the UK.