Hong Kong telecommunications company PCCW and the Le Sports division of Chinese IPTV operator LeTV have said an agreement has been reached that could see English Premier League football rights remain on the former’s pay-television service Now TV.
The Premier League on Tuesday confirmed an exclusive rights deal in Hong Kong with LeTV which will run for three seasons, from 2016-17 to 2018-19.
Now TV currently holds the exclusive rights to the Premier League in Hong Kong under a three-year deal spanning the 2013-14 to 2015-16 seasons. LeTV's chief executive for Asia-Pacific, Mok Chui-tin, had initially dismissed the prospect of a deal being reached with PCCW for the next set of Premier League rights.
However, the two companies said in a fresh statement: “Le Sports and PCCW Media Limited jointly announce the two parties have reached an agreement in relation to the cooperation on the broadcast of the Premier League matches, and are actively discussing the execution details.”
LeTV currently shows the Premier League via online and mobile platforms in mainland China through a sublicensing deal with media company Super Sports Media Group, which is the competition’s rights partner in mainland China and Macau.