China
LaLiga agrees early China extension amid cooling market
Spanish football’s LaLiga extended its rights deal in China with Wuhan DDMC Culture in May without going to market, where it would have faced a tough task maintaining its income, SportBusiness Media understands. The Chinese rights market has cooled since the previous deal was agreed, and DDMC is thought to be paying the league a strong rights fee.
Alibaba and Suning planning sports joint-venture
Chinese conglomerates Alibaba and Suning are planning a joint venture that would create the market’s most powerful sports business, according to industry news website Lanxiong Sports.
NHL furthers Chinese strategy with Dongtu launch
North American ice hockey league the NHL has stepped up its engagement with the Chinese market by agreeing a partnership with micro-content platform Dongtu
UFC signs partnership deal with Weibo
Mixed martial arts promotion the Ultimate Fighting Championship has agreed a partnership with Chinese social media platform Weibo
China’s DDMC renews LaLiga rights deal
Chinese sports and entertainment company Wuhan DDMC Culture Co has extended an agreement for rights to LaLiga, the top tier of Spanish club football
Sina Sports extends US Masters digital deal in China
Chinese internet company Sina Sports has renewed a digital rights agreement for the US Masters ahead of this year’s edition of the golf major.
UFC makes Toutiao latest Chinese content partner
Mixed martial arts promotion the Ultimate Fighting Championship has signed its latest content partnership in China through a deal with content discovery platform Toutiao
UFC signs content partnership with China’s Qutoutiao
The UFC has signed a content partnership with Chinese short-form video platform Qutoutiao
NBA content made available on Alibaba platforms in China
The NBA has expanded its partnership with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba to offer fans in China original programming and an easier way to buy merchandise
European Tour lands Sina Sports partnership
Golf’s European Tour has signed a three-year partnership with Chinese internet company Sina Sports.
Wu Lei debut watched by over 40 million in China
27 year-old Chinese football star Wu Lei's €2m ($203m) move to Espanyol in LaLiga went largely unnoticed in Europe as the January transfer window closed. Wu Lei previously featured for Shanghai SIPG.
NFL partners with Alibaba’s Youku to push content in China
The NFL and Alibaba have announced a digital partnership in China that will feature weekly content on Youku's sports channel.
CCTV acquires Champions League rights from Suning for three seasons
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV last week agreed a sublicensing deal with the Suning conglomerate to acquire Uefa Champions League rights for the remainder of the current cycle, from 2018-19 to 2020-21
CCTV’s new digital strategy complicates renewal talks for Champions League, Bundesliga and Serie A
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV is in discussions to renew rights to three of its most important football properties: the Uefa Champions League, Germany’s Bundesliga and Italy’s Serie A.
WTCR’s Chinese partner gears up for home race
Chinese sports streaming platform QiE has expanded its commitment to the World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) motor-racing series
Investors come on board for new Chinese sports media venture
Chinese online entertainment service iQIYI has formed a joint venture with media company Super Sports Media entitled Beijing Xin'ai Sport Media Technology, with the platform attracting its first wave of…
Uefa completes slew of deals as new cycle draws close
Uefa has finalised a host of media-rights deals for its national-team properties around the world as the start of its new cycle draws near.
LFP adds to Ligue 1’s Chinese rights partners
The PP Sports division of Chinese new media company PPTV has acquired exclusive new media rights in China to Ligue 1, the top division of French club football