Japan

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.

Strong competition helped Uefa secure an increase of about 50 per cent for its club competition rights in Japan last month, as OTT platform DAZN added another premium property to its portfolio.

The Perform Group believes the profitability of DAZN, is a realistic aim within three years in Germany, despite a current outlay of more than €45m ($50.9m) per year on sports rights.

Interview with John Gleasure, chief commercial officer of DAZN, on the Peform-owned OTT platform's launch in Japan and Germany, Austria & Switzerland.

The Perform Group told TV Sports Markets its deal for Japan’s J-League represented “great value” compared to many domestic football leagues, despite a rights fee four times higher than the previous value.

Interview with Simon Denyer, chief executive of the Perform Group, on its acquisition of J-League rights for 10 years from 2017 to 2026.

Emerging competition in Japan’s digital sector helped the MP & Silva agency earn significant profit on its deals for England’s Premier League and Spain’s LaLiga.

The Perform Group will next year launch two OTT subscription services – one in Japan and one across Germany, Austria and Switzerland – as part of a move which could transform how live sport is delivered to consumers.

The value of exclusivity and a home Games in 2020 helped the International Paralympic Committee strike its biggest-ever deal, with Japanese state broadcaster NHK, late last month.

Fox International Channels’ decision to sublicense German Bundesliga rights in Japan to the MP & Silva agency surprised industry observers this week. Something seemed to be the wrong way round – agencies buy to sell to broadcasters, not vice versa.

Uefa earned a decent increase in the value of its club tournaments in Japan this month despite the minimal level of competition in the market.

MP & Silva has paid a significant increase for the rights in Japan to Euro 2016 in a deal finalised last month. The agency now faces a challenge to turn a profit on the deal.

The International Olympic Committee and the Japan Consortium of broadcasters, which this month acquired exclusive Japanese rights to the Olympic Games from 2018 to 2024, are both likely to be happy with the deal, local experts say.

The world swimming federation earned a small fee increase in its renewal last week with Japanese commercial broadcaster TV Asahi.

Interview with Peter Hall, Fina’s head of marketing TV, on the federation’s new deal with commercial broadcaster TV Asahi in Japan.