Pan-Asian sports broadcaster ESPN Star Sports has acquired live rights for the Russian Premier League, the top division of football in the country.
The three-year deal will run from 2012-13 to 2014-15.
The deal was brokered by the IMG agency, which is the league’s media rights distribution partner outside Russia for the three-year period.
“This is an important agreement for the Russian Premier League and will give the league, its clubs and players great exposure in Asia,” IMG Media senior vice-president Michael Mellor said. “ESPN Star Sports has built an excellent portfolio of sporting rights and this will strengthen their line-up of top football for their customers.”
IMG is selling the rights for live coverage and highlights of all 240 league games per year across television, internet, mobile phone, DVD, in-flight and in-ship platforms.