China Arena Football League, the country’s first professional American football league, has struck a rights partnership with online video platform iQIYI ahead of its debut season.
The deal names iQIYI as the exclusive provider of the league’s inaugural season, with a view towards forming a long-term partnership.
All 18 games will be provided live, in full, only on iQIYI. All games will also be available for later viewing, along with a special weekly magazine show and additional content developed by the CAFL’s own media company.
“Such a quality media partner will be vital to our sport becoming as popular with the fans here, as it is in the United States,” CAFL founder and chairman Martin Judge said. “Our media people met with every one of the major broadcasters and digital networks in China and in the end it was a clear choice for us.
“iQIYI’s proven track record of young viewership and their promotional power is a perfect fit and we look forward to great cooperation and success together for many years.”
Following approval from the Chinese government, the CAFL will kick off its inaugural season of professional American football in Beijing on the weekend of October 1-2, before continuing for five more consecutive weekends in Dalian, Qingdao, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
The inaugural CAFL Championship weekend will be held on November 5-6 at Shanghai Oriental Stadium.