FuboTV Inc. has announced it will begin offering pick'em games to customers this weekend, marking a first for the industry and another major step by the company in integrating its streaming service and online sports betting business.
The free-to-play pick’ems will launch on Sunday for select FuboTV subscribers and will roll out gradually in the coming months, the company said in a press release.
Pick’em players will be able to test their skills by predicting the outcome of a limited number of live sporting events directly from FuboTV’s home screen. Players can try to earn points and compete against their friends and the FuboTV community in a variety of contests.
What’s more, by scanning a QR code, pick'em players will be able to access the Fubo Sportsbook where it’s available and to place real-money wagers aligned with their picks.
"With this weekend’s launch, FuboTV will become the first live TV streaming platform to offer pick’em games integrated into the video experience with a direct gateway to an owned-and-operated sportsbook,” FuboTV Chief Product Office Mike Berkley said in the release. “We believe interactivity is a key product differentiator for Fubo and, with these immersive experiences built into our live streaming product, we can offer the most personalized - and customizable - sports and entertainment television experience."
From passive to active
FuboTV was founded in 2015 and has been steadily expanding ever since. It is a relative newcomer to legal sports betting, having launched Fubo Sportsbook in November 2021.
Currently, the online bookmaker is live in only two states, Arizona and Iowa, although it is expected to launch in additional markets. The bookmaker has partnerships with NASCAR and the NFL’s New York Jets, as well as a multi-year agreement with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers.
Fubo is pursuing a unique strategy amongst online sportsbooks. Its betting business is touted as “a next-generation mobile sportsbook purpose-built to integrate with FuboTV,” and the company recently reported its interactive wagering service has led to stronger customer engagement. According to FuboTV, crossover users place a greater average number of bets and have higher retention rates on the sportsbook as compared to sportsbook-only players.
“Fubo Sportsbook is purpose-built to meet U.S. sports fans’ growing demand for interactivity by delivering personalized omniscreen experiences that turn passive viewers into active participants,” the release noted.
The mission
The company also expects to launch additional product features intended to increase the overlap between FuboTV viewers and Fubo Sportsbook customers. These new features include the posting of live odds at some point later this year, subject to regulatory approval.
"Our mission is to transform the TV experience through interactive engagement, including free gaming and real-money wagering, into streaming video," said David Gandler, co-founder and CEO of FuboTV, in the release. "This industry-first integration has been popular with consumers, and, as we reported on our recent first quarter 2022 earnings call, we’re already seeing encouraging early signs of the flywheel effect between FuboTV and Fubo Sportsbook.”
