China

LeTV Sports, a new sports-rights venture operated by Chinese IPTV operator LeTV, has acquired rights for North America’s Major League Soccer.

LeTV Sports, a new sports-rights venture operated by Chinese IPTV operator LeTV, has generated $129m (€116m) through a funding round, with media moguls Jack Ma and Wang Jianlin being the lead investors.

Chinese internet firm LeTV has agreed a content partnership with the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts series.

The Fox International Channels broadcast division of media company 21st Century Fox has linked up with several Asian media companies to make its Fox Sports content available on an OTT basis in the region.

Clipper Ventures, rights-holder and organiser of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, has signed its first comprehensive Chinese broadcast deal with Beijing Television (BTV).

The Infront Sports & Media agency has appointed Anne Zhao as the new managing director of its Infront China division with immediate effect.

Last month’s deal between the Pacific-12 Conference (Pac-12) and Chinese internet firm LeTV is evidence that China’s internet platforms are providing sports bodies with exposure which has a value beyond rights fees.

The National Basketball Association’s exclusive digital rights deal with Chinese internet operator Tencent, agreed late last month, looks to be a landmark one for the country’s media-rights market.

Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda has formally submitted a bid to acquire the Infront Sports & Media agency, according to Swiss public-service broadcaster RTS.

Chinese internet company Tencent has struck an exclusive digital partnership with the North American NBA basketball league.

Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda is closing in on a deal to acquire the Infront Sports & Media agency, according to the Financial Times newspaper.

The International Olympic Committee earned a significant increase from Chinese state broadcaster CCTV this month, but the new deal still falls well short of the true market value of the Games.

The 2014 edition of the World Mind Games has secured 22 broadcast partnerships worldwide, including 11 that will show the ongoing Beijing event across Asia and Europe

Chinese state-owned broadcaster China Central Television has acquired exclusive rights for the inaugural 2015 European Games multi-sport event.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has extended its partnership with the International Olympic Committee by acquiring the exclusive rights in China for the four editions of the Olympic Games spanning 2018 to 2024.

US private investment group Providence and two Chinese companies, including property firm Wanda, are considering bids for the Infront Sports & Media agency, according to the Financial Times.

North American ice hockey league the NHL has signed a rights deal with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

World Touring Car Championship promoter Eurosport Events has secured rights deals with eight free-to-air broadcasters in mainland China for the motor racing series’ forthcoming races in Beijing and Shanghai.