November 7: Having announced to acquire all media rights to broadcast FIFA events from 2018 to 2022 in the Chinese mainland, China Central Television (CCTV) network officially signed the agreement with FIFA at a signing ceremony held in Beijing.

Over 150 guests and representatives attended the ceremony, including CCTV Deputy Editor-in-Chief Peng Jianming, FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, FIFA Chief Commercial Officer Philipe Le Floc’h and Zhang Jian, FIFA Council member and Senior Vice President and General Secretary of the Chinese Football Association (CFA).

Peng introduced in his speech that the new agreement signed by the two sides will give CCTV the exclusive media rights to 17 FIFA events to be held during the period 2018-2022. He also promised that CCTV will keep delivering high-quality broadcasting of these events and other sports events for free. 

Over the next five years, CCTV will have the rights to stream the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the 2018 World Cup in Qatar, the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, the 2021 Confederations Cup, the 2020 Indoor Football World Cup and the Beach Football World Cup in 2019 and 2021.  

The next three editions of the Women’s U20 World Cup and U17 World Cup (2018,2020,2022), as well as the next two editions of Men’s U20 World Cup and the U17 World Cup (2019,2021) will also be delivered to Chinese football fans by CCTV. 

“One of the goals we set in ‘FIFA 2.0: The Vision for the Future’ is very clear — by 2026, more than 60% of the world’s population will participate in football. How could we even dream of achieving this without focusing on China? On 1.4 billion fans and fans-to-be of the beautiful game?” stated Samoura.

“China is only starting to unseal its potential; its power to develop football and to increase even more the game’s popularity. This is a beautiful blossoming process, for which broadcast and media are fundamental. It is as clear as that: FIFA’s partnership with CCTV is fundamental.”

Source: Yutang Sports

Proofread by William Logsdon