Sina and Tencent claim Premier League rights deals

Chinese internet operators Sina and Tencent have secured digital broadcast rights to the English Premier League for the 2015-16 season.

The China Sports Review website said Sina has announced that 230 of the total 380 Premier League games will be streamed live for free on its sports channel next season.

It added that Tencent is likely to match that offer, with the remainder of the games offered on a pay-per-view basis through both platforms and some accessible exclusively through Super Sports’ own streaming website. Super Sports Media Group holds exclusive live Premier League rights to all 380 matches per season over six seasons, from 2013-14 to 2018-19, in mainland China and Macau.

LeTV Sports, a new sports-rights venture operated by Chinese IPTV operator LeTV, held non-exclusive Premier League rights last season. LeTV Sports chief executive Lei Zhenjian has said the platform will continue to provide live streaming of the league in 2015-16.