MP & Silva and Dentsu Ties Up Major Serie A Media Rights Deals in Asia

MP & Silva and Dentsu Inc. announced today that they have concluded deals with 24 Asian broadcasters and telecom operators for the media rights of Italy’s top professional football league, Serie A.  The agreements covers 16 territories – spanning across the majority of countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Macau, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bhutan, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. 

Companies that have signed major deals with MP & Silva and Dentsu include Japanese pay-TV operator, SKY PerfecTV!, China terrestrial network, CCTV, Korea-based MBC ESPN, Chinese pay-TV, Eurosoccer TV, and Indonesian free-to-air broadcaster, TRANS TV.

Major terrestrial channels in Indonesia, China, Thailand and Japan have also signed up to broadcast ‘LIVE’ and delayed matches, and have achieved strong viewership in their respective countries so far –  with Indonesia’s TRANS 7 achieving record ratings for a recent match between AS Roma against Internazionale.  Four Japanese terrestrial broadcasters, Fuji Television Network, Nippon Television Network, Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), and TV Asahi have also agreed terms to broadcast ‘LIVE’ and delayed matches, and will greatly extend Serie A’s reach in Japan. 

In a milestone agreement, the agencies have also signed a deal with Taiwanese broadcaster, Chinese Satellite Network, which will see Serie A matches being broadcasted in the country for the first time.

The inked deals will also see Serie A matches being distributed across multiple platforms and formats – especially in the key markets in the region, such as China (free-to-air terrestrial, pay-TV satellite and cable, ADSL PC, and mobile), and Japan (free-to-air terrestrial, pay-TV cable and satellite, and ADSL PC).   In Hong Kong, consumers will be provided with two different pay-TV platforms via Hong Kong’s leading operators, PCCW’s NOW TV (IPTV), and i-CABLE (satellite and cable).

“Serie A is one of world’s top football leagues and the number of concluded deals underlines its growing popularity in Asia,” said Andrea Radrizzani, Chief Executive Officer, MP & Silva. “The Asia-Pacific region is a key market for us, and we are planning to reach out to more viewers through a multiple platform distribution strategy.”
 
“Asian broadcasters and network operators that have signed deals with us see the potential and value proposition provided by Serie A,” said Riccardo Silva, President, MP & Silva. “Unlike other leagues, Serie A is a tried-and-proven product that has helped network operators and broadcasters drive subscription, and grow advertising revenue – which are important for success in a multi-play and digital environment.”