Report: Twitter in talks over Apple TV app, more sports rights

Twitter is reportedly in talks with Apple about bringing the Twitter app to Apple TV, as the social network prepares to start offering live-streams of NFL football.

According to a New York Times report, which cites unnamed sources, Twitter is also in discussions about buying more sports rights and is holding talks with organisations including Major League Soccer and the Professional Golfers Association.

In April, Twitter struck an exclusive deal with the NFL to deliver a live OTT stream of Thursday Night Football to a global audience for free, without authentication.

According to the NYT, Twitter greed to pay the NFL around US$10 million to stream 10 games and to sell only a portion of the ad inventory exclusively – offering better terms than rival bidders including Facebook.

The NFL agreement comes into force during the 2016 Regular Season, which kicks off next month, with Twitter to stream the 10 Thursday Night Football games that will also be broadcast by NBC and CBS in the US and simulcast on the NFL Network.

The partnership includes live match coverage, as well as in-game highlights and pre-game Periscope broadcasts from players and teams, in order to give fans “an immersive experience before, during and after games.”