Premier League agrees deals in Malaysia and Hong Kong

The English Premier League has agreed rights deals with pay-television broadcaster Astro in Malaysia and telecommunications company PCCW in Hong Kong in its latest agreements for the three-year cycle from 2013-14 to 2015-16.

Astro has acquired rights for all 380 matches per season, retaining its status as the primary platform for the league in Malaysia. The deal includes online and mobile rights.

“Since 1997, Astro has been showcasing Premier League action as part of a comprehensive bouquet of football programming to the Malaysian football fans,” Astro chief executive Dato’ Rohana Rozhan said. “Now with [mobile service] Astro On the Go, they can enjoy the best sporting events on their mobile devices wherever they are, as well as from the comfort of their homes.”

In Hong Kong, PCCW acquired the rights on an exclusive basis and will exploit them on its Now TV pay-television service. The deal also covers all 380 matches per season and includes digital media and mobile rights.

PCCW will take the rights over from cable-television broadcaster Cable TV, the current rights-holder. Cable TV is in the final year of a three-year deal, from 2010-11 to 2012-13, to show league action exclusively on its i-Cable pay-television service.

“We know PCCW well as they have held Premier League rights in the past, including for the 2007-08 to 2009-10 seasons,” the league’s chief executive, Richard Scudamore, said. “We are extremely pleased they have chosen to invest in the Premier League and look forward to working with them again. i-Cable has held our rights for six of the last nine seasons and has been an excellent partner for the Premier League.”