Tencent Sports and FIFA enter an exclusive licensing agreement on the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017

Tencent Sports and FIFA recently announced their ground-breaking agreement under which Tencent Sports will obtain exclusive digital media rights on video-on-demand and live streaming of the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 in mainland China. The Agreement also gives Tencent Sports exclusive new media rights in mainland China on the FIFA Under 17 World Cup 2017, which will be held in India.

The FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017, which is scheduled to be held from June 17 to July 2, 2017, will be streamed live exclusively on Tencent Sports. The test event of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017, will also be one of the most eye-catching football tournaments this summer. The eight teams will include the host Russia, the champion of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the latest continental champions, while the world’s top football players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, will fight for the trophy.

“The Confederations Cup is a tournament featuring the best national teams and players in the world. The collaboration with FIFA, the top governing body of football, offers Chinese fans access to the world’s top football games on Tencent’s various platforms,” said Ewell Zhao, General Manager of Tencent Sports. “Withover 900 million monthly active users at WeChat (known as Weixin in China), Tencent will further boost the influence of international football tournaments in China through our multiple platforms including live steaming, news, programs and social engagement with users to bring ChCina’s sports industry to new heights.”

“We are very pleased to be partnering with the leading internet service provider in China to give local fans access to the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 and the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 online, anytime, anywhere,” said FIFA’s Chief Commercial Officer, Philippe Le Floc’h. “As one of the largest internet companies in the world, Tencent owns the most popular social and media platforms in China, making it an ideal home for FIFA competitions. This agreement with Tencent marks our most significant collaboration yet with China’s digital media sector, and serves as a key step forward for FIFA.”

As China’s leading online sports platform, Tencent Sports will cover and provide world-class live broadcasting of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017. In addition to having a professional team reporting and broadcasting live, Tencent Sports will also engage a group of Chinese football experts to deliver the best commentaries, engaging big names such as Su Dong, Yan Qiang and Li Yi, to create an immersive and engaging experience for Tencent users.

The Agreement represents the first exclusive partnership between FIFA and the mainland Chinese digital media industry. Tencent will provide live steaming, video-on-demand,  original programs, highlights and special coverage of the two international football tournaments in 2017 by bringing together its diverse range of PC and mobile platforms, including Tencent Sports, QQ.com, Tencent Video and Penguin Live, in addition to its social platforms, such as Weixin and QQ.

In fact, Tencent Sports has expanded into the field of football a while ago, and has invested considerably through acquisitions of premium resources and content. Currently, Tencent has media rights in a number of top football leagues and tournaments, including the Bundesliga, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. The collaboration with FIFA, an influential partner in the international sports industry, is another great addition to Tencent Sports’ portfolio. Tencent Sports will make use of its rewarding experiences by utilizing its diverse range of resources to further promote FIFA events in China.