Ustream Inc. has announced a strategic alliance with IMG Media to be its online broadcast platform for distributing live games and events to a worldwide audience. Covering select sports content from around the world, the deal ensures global audiences will view the events regardless of platform.

With 60 million monthly unique viewers, Ustream is said to be the only live video platform capable of scaling to the size of global audiences for large events. As part of the agreement with IMG Media, Ustream will access and encode live feeds via satellite and distribute the content on the Ustream platform as well as to partner sites so fans can choose where to watch their favourite sporting events across a selection of top tier sites.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with IMG Media as part of Ustream’s overall strategy of expanding our programming to offer our viewers the best live online content in the world,” says Ustream CEO Brad Hunstable. “The combination of IMG Media’s global sports content and Ustreams’ powerful social platform for online broadcast offers viewers unprecedented ways to engage with fellow fans and access live programming.”

IMG Media and Ustream kicked off their alliance on October 12 with various 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.