Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has extended its rights deal with Fifa, football’s world governing body.
The deal announced today (Wednesday) grants CCTV the exclusive media rights in China for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which will be held in Russia and Qatar, respectively, as well as all of Fifa’s other major international competitions until 2022, including France’s 2019 Women’s World Cup.
With this agreement, CCTV has acquired all media rights, across all platforms and including live, delayed and highlights rights.
Fifa said the World Cup will be available for viewing on CCTV’s multiple channels as well as on various new media and mobile platforms. CCTV has been the broadcaster of the World Cup in China since the 1978 edition in Argentina.
“China has an important role to play in Fifa’s global development strategy,” Fifa secretary general Fatma Samoura said. “Our close partnership with CCTV, reinforced by this new two-cycle deal, will make the Fifa World Cup even more accessible to the Chinese audience, increase further the popularity of the game in the country, and support the development of Chinese football.”