Xiaomi in Premier League media rights dispute

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi has recently been involved in a media rights dispute with Super Sports Media Group, the exclusive Chinese rights holder for all 380 English Premier League(EPL) games per season from the 2013/14 to the 2018/19 season.

According to earlier reports, Mi Box, an internet TV Box brand owned by Xiaomi, is set to show all the 2016/17 EPL matches in China. This is thought to be part of Xiaomi’s content co-operation with Shanghai-based IPTV operator BesTV, which has acquired the broadcasting rights for the league from 2013 to 2018 on the Chinese mainland.

However, Super Sports Media have claimed that Xiaomi’s so-called media rights have not received any official authorization, because they sold broadcasting rights instead of distribution rights to their shareholder BesTV.

“How can Xiaomi openly break the rules? How can a firm survive if it disregards other players’ intellectual rights?” Yu Lingxiao, Vice President of Super Sports Media told Yutang in a recent interview.

“I need at least an official response from Xiaomi, if not an apology. Did they have the right to claim their media rights in the absence of a rights holder?” Yu added.

Source: Yutang Sports

Proofread by Sean O Diobhilin