The MP & Silva agency has announced its acquisition of the rights for the English Football League and English League Cup in Asia in a five-year deal, from 2012-13 to 2016-17, with the competitions’ international rights-holder the Pitch International agency.
MP & Silva has already been in the market with the rights. Last month TV Sports Markets reported that it had concluded a deal in Thailand and had approached several other markets including Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia (TV Sports Markets 16:8).
The agency also owns the rights in Asia to several other top football properties. “The Capital One Cup [the League Cup] and the nPower Football League Championship [the top tier of the English Football League] rights, together with the Premier League, FA Cup, Serie A, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Brazilian League and World Cup qualifier matches, ensures MP & Silva is in the very strongest position to negotiate with broadcasters and ensure that audience numbers grow in Asia,” Andrea Radrizzani, MP & Silva’s group chief executive, said today.
The latest deal covers rights for live matches from the League Cup, as well as the three divisions of the Football League, including promotion playoff matches, plus highlights.