Pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports has acquired media rights for Major League Soccer in 11 markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
The deal runs until the 2022 season and covers rights in the 11 territories in which beIN operates in the region – Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
The deal extends an existing seven-territory agreement between beIN and the MLS. The broadcaster has shown coverage of the league in Asia-Pacific since 2015.
IMG holds the MLS international rights in a eight-year deal, from 2015 to 2022, with Soccer United Marketing, the commercial arm of the league and the US football federation. The agreement is global, excluding Canada and the US.
The Qatar-backed beIN is also currently broadcasting the Florida Cup, the exhibition tournament taking place at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, across 37 territories, including the Asia-Pacific region.