Asia

Asian mixed martial arts promotion the One Championship has agreed a rights deal with China’s Great Sports Media.

Hong Kong sports broadcaster LeSports HK is expected to cease operations this week after an application was filed by its creditors, according to daily newspaper the Standard.

Digital football business Dugout has agreed a deal to acquire Ballball, the mobile and online football platform serving Southeast Asia which is owned by media group News Corp.

Digital content specialist NowThis Sports has signed a two-year partnership with the International Paralympic Committee.

Chinese internet company Tencent has further strengthened its presence in the domestic live streaming market by making major investments in two platforms that specialise in esports.

State broadcaster CCTV, Shanghai-based satellite television broadcaster Great Sports and online streaming platform Tencent Sports will share rights to the 2018 season of the Formula One motor-racing championship in China, according to the Jiemian.com website.

State-owned broadcaster Bangladesh Television (BTV), pay-television broadcaster Maasranga Television and Nagorik Television have acquired rights to the 2018 Fifa World Cup in the south Asian country.

The JioTV app, which is owned by Indian mobile network operator Reliance-Jio, has acquired digital rights to the Nidahas Trophy Twenty20 cricket tournament, which got underway yesterday (Tuesday).

North America’s Major League Soccer has agreed a streaming partnership with sports marketing agency China Sports Media.

Media group Sony Pictures Networks India has acquired rights in the Indian subcontinent to national team games hosted by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The IMG agency has sealed a three-year extension to its contract to sell and distribute global media rights to the Chinese Super League, the top tier of club football in China.

Perform-owned OTT platform DAZN believes it is in position to drive growth in Japan’s pay-television sports market after a deal to acquire most of its former rival's rights.

The 2018 Olympic Games was shown live in Singapore after a late deal with pay-television broadcaster Eleven Sports, which showed some coverage free-to-air.

The International Olympic Committee has furthered its ties with the Japan Consortium of broadcasters ahead of the 2020 summer Olympic Games in Tokyo by agreeing a new partnership centred on the Olympic Channel digital platform.

Japanese sports broadcaster J Sports has renewed its commitment to touring car racing by acquiring rights to the newly-formed World Touring Car Cup (WTCR).

Media company Discovery Communications has hailed the performance of its first Olympics as a major rights-holder, stating the Pyeongchang 2018 winter Games delivered on its commitment to engage more people, on more screens than ever before across Europe, leaving it in a strong position for the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo.