Vietnamese pay-television operator Vietnam Cable Television (VTVcab) has agreed a two-season deal to broadcast European club football competition the Uefa Champions League.
The Tuoi Tre News website reported that the deal was agreed with South Korean firm KJ Investment Group and grants VTVcab rights to the 2016-17 and 2017-18 editions of the tournament. VTVcab will hold television, internet and mobile broadcast rights.
The announcement brings to an end the uncertainty surrounding VTVcab’s broadcasting of the competition, with this season’s group stages having commenced without coverage in the country.
In August 2015, VTVcab said it had agreed a three-season deal, covering the 2015-16 to 2017-18 campaigns, to sublicense rights to the Champions League from KJ Investment Group.
However, Tuoi Tre News said the rights were removed from VTVcab in March amid concerns over piracy of its coverage across Vietnam.
Earlier this month, VTVcab chief executive Hoang Ngoc Huan confirmed to the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the company had no telecast rights to this season’s Champions League.
He said at the time that VTVcab was still in negotiations with KJ Investment Group. An agreement has now been reached in time for the resumption of the Champions League group stages later today (Tuesday).