Asia

The MP & Silva agency has confirmed it has struck a deal to distribute the next cycle of rights for football’s English Premier League in multiple territories in Asia.

The Sina Sports division of Chinese internet operator Sina has acquired exclusive rights in China to broadcast the International Premier Tennis League franchise-based competition.

The Pac-12 US college sports conference has expanded its rights partnership with Chinese internet company LeTV.

Commercial broadcaster TV5 has acquired rights in the Philippines for the 2015 edition of the International Premier Tennis League exhibition tournament.

Singaporean telecommunications company Singtel has extended a rights deal for football’s English Premier League.

World Rugby, the global governing body of rugby union, has launched the tender process for the appointment of host broadcast services for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India will launch a new process for the next set of broadcast rights to Twenty20 competition the Indian Premier League in May 2016.

The MP & Silva agency has confirmed it has regained distribution rights for the English Premier League club football competition in Japan.

UK pay-television broadcaster Premier Sports has acquired rights to Twenty20 cricket competition the Bangladesh Premier League, which returns after a one-year hiatus later this month.

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group has furthered its drive into the country’s digital media market by agreeing a deal to acquire online video platform Youku Tudou.

The Asian Cricket Council has opened a tender process for certain media rights relating to its Asia Cup national team tournaments.

England’s Premier League this week completed the first set of deals across Asia for its rights in the 2016-17 to 2018-19 cycle, with mixed results. It saw significant increases in value from Australia and New Zealand, but a decline in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, while Malaysia and Myanmar are proving difficult.

Sony-owned Indian broadcaster Multi Screen Media, a major broadcaster of sports coverage in the country, has rebranded as Sony Pictures Networks (SPN).

Online video platform iQIYI has agreed a long-term deal to become the official digital rights partner of the Women’s Tennis Association in China.

Online video platform iQIYI has struck a deal to become the official digital streaming portal in China for golf’s PGA Tour.

International pay-television broadcaster Eleven Sports Network has acquired rights in Singapore for the inaugural World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 tournament.