PP Sports recently signed a three year deal (2018-2021) with Ligue 1, securing  the exclusive digital live and on-demand broadcasting rights to Ligue 1, the French League Cup and the Champions Trophy in China. A signing ceremony was held on July 28 in Nanjing.  

Under this partnership, PP Sports will be able to create a more immersive service for its users around French football, offering live and on-demand match broadcasts, news, short clips, activities, fan communities and by-products. 

During the Champions Trophy, the traditional curtain-raiser to the new season, to be played on Saturday, August 4 in Shenzhen, China, PP Sports’s brand will be displayed on the perimeter boards. Additionally, as the partnership develops, PP Sports will collaborate with Ligue 1 on merchandise and youth training, helping to grow football culture in China. 

Didier Quillot, Ligue 1 CEO, says that they are delighted to have reached a partnership with an international group such as Suning in China. This partnership will cover the Chinese market to the biggest extent possible and will increase the fan base of the league in China. They believe the competitiveness and appeal of Ligue 1 in China will grow day by day.

Vice President of PP Sports, Zeng Gang, commented that PP Sports will continue to increase Ligue 1’s commercial value in China by operating the media rights professionally and taking advantage of the strengths of Suning Group. 

Back in April this year, Ligue 1 reached a partnership with CCTV to broadcast French league games on CCTV5 for 4 seasons (2017/18-2020/21), returning to the national state sports channel after many years. With this new partnership for PP Sports, Ligue 1 has covered both traditional TV and digital ends. 

PP Sports also just signed an all-media exclusive rights to the Bundesliga in China for 5 years at the beginning of July. 

Reference: Sports Bank 

Proofread by Raymond Fitzpatrick