The English Premier League has sold its television rights in China for $US700 million in its biggest-ever overseas sale, a person familiar with the deal said on Thursday.
Online video streaming service PPTV sealed a three-year deal to broadcast all 380 matches each season across China from 2019-20, the person told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the negotiations are confidential with PPTV, a media division of China’s Suning retail group which also owns Italian club Inter Milan.
PPTV’s 2019-2022 deal is worth more than 10 times the current contract with Super Sports Media Group, which is paying around $20 million a season.
PPTV also has the live rights for games from Spain’s La Liga in China.
The bumper Premier League agreement is a sign of the anticipated enduring attraction of the world’s richest soccer competition just as there has been discussion in England about declining domestic ratings for games.
President Xi Jinping has made improving Chinese soccer a priority, from the grassroots to the international team. Chinese businessmen have responded to the president’s call by elevating the country’s influence in global soccer.
Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa, and Wolverhampton Wanderers have received investment from China over the last year.
In Italy, Inter’s rival, AC Milan, is also set to fall under Chinese ownership next month when Sino-Europe Sports completes its takeover from three-time former premier and billionaire businessman Silvio Berlusconi.
China is also looking to host the World Cup for the first time after Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group signed up as a FIFA sponsor until 2030.
Nemesis
Guest
Only today, the Optus CEO told the Financial Review that the Optus online sport strategy is being built on football. The EPL rights was jut the beginning. The CEO says Optus will go after niche sports products. Optus is currently broadcasting the AFF Suziki Cup, the Fifa u17 Women's World Cup. A few months ago Optus broadcast the u19 Asian Championships and the 2017 Futsal World Cup. So, you can bet your house that Optus will make a big play for A-League rights. It ticks both boxes: Football and niche product.
Mark
Guest
The V8 broadcast rights are a very interesting beast. At first you wonder how they could possibly get so much for their rights, but the more you think about it the more it makes sense. As you say, the V8s only have 14 meetings a year, but that can work to their advantage as broadcasters don't get bogged down with parts of the schedule that have little appeal. Sure, the A-League rights come with finals and the Melbourne and Sydney derbies which have mass appeal, but the full rights also come with the requirement to broadcast CCM vs Wellington and other lower interest matches that would struggle to have more appeal than anything else they could throw on at the same time. Competition is another factor. With the V8s, we know Fox, 7 and 10 are interested, but with the A-League we only know Fox are interested. We think Optus and BeIN might be interested and we know some FTA channels are tentatively interested in some of the rights, but we don't know for sure that any party other than Fox is interested in buying the full rights package. Advertising revenue is a further factor. With the V8s, it's not hard to immediately think of half a dozen or more auto industry brands that are desperate to be associated with the V8s and will throw money at whichever broadcaster it goes to. I can't do the same with the A-League.
Nemesis
Guest
Oh dear. A Chinese businessman wanted to buy Kidman Station so he said he loves AFL and will pay $3m to broadcast it in China. His bid for Kidman was knocked back by the FIRB so, unless that $3m was paid up front, you won't see one cent of that money. But good luck... I hope you understand Mandarin for "the cheque's in the mail".
Amazon
Roar Rookie
Back it up Bob, that's a "throw away" line. Like toys outta the cot!!
Amazon
Roar Rookie
3 million what? Dollars of course.............. to the club. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/chinese-billionaire-gui-goujies-mega-sponsorship-of-port-adelaide-football-club-could-clear-way-to-s-kidman-pastoral-empire-buyout/news-story/ab315cdab8450899827a1798674107f6
punter
Guest
To play the game in China? Who pays who?
Nemesis
Guest
Who is paying 3 million to broadcast AFL into China? And, 3 million what?
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
That money's paid by the Australian government under the guise of "trade", not private companies. Everyone knows that the biggest return on trade with Asian nations would be via football, not MeIbourne RuIes.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
To earn the right to broadcast EPL to less than a third of the ratings of the A-League, Optus spent an astonishing amount of money, buying the Australian rights for $US150 million ($A200m). Also the Super Cars get $70 million a year for their broadcast rights and they only have 14 meetings a year, whereas the A-League has 27 rounds plus finals series.
Amazon
Roar Rookie
Punter - The China deal is worth 3 million over 3 years, egg shaped indeed - A Golden one!.
Brian Orange
Roar Guru
Its great to see you have become a spokesman for soccer fans. Its not what the football fans think.
Nemesis
Guest
When the last A-League deal was negotiated, FoxSports paid double for A-League broadcast rights than it did for EPL rights. Will the ALeague rights be worth double what Optus paid? Who knows. What we do know is Premier League ratings in Australia are about 20% that of ALeague over a season. And this season, A-League ratings are surging higher on FoxSports even though many ignorant people predicted Aleague ratings on FoxSports would plummet.
Sydneysider
Guest
MF at his best..... LOL.... well done mate.
punter
Guest
I heard Kochie & the AFL were going to play a game in China to promote the game, even the Prime Minster was involved, but it all went egg shaped in the end.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Interesting to note that what the Premier League is receiving from China, in annual terms, is almost three times as much as what the local CSL is receiving. Is it possible that we will see a similar trend in Australia, where more is paid for the Premier League than is paid for the A-League. At this precise moment, Optus is paying more for the Premier League (around $63 million per annum) than what what Fox/SBS is paying for the A-League ($40 million per annum)? Soccer fans are hopeful that whoever gets the A-League broadcast rights from next season will be paying at least as much as that $63 million per annum figure.