SPORTACCORD 2024 INSIGHTS: Sport’s Perfect Storm
23 May 2024 14:34
Infront Sports & Media, the Swiss-based sports marketing company recently acquired by Chinese businessman Wang Jianlin's Dalian Wanda Group, has unveiled new deals with three Asian football associations.
The company, which is headed by FIFA President Sepp Blatter's nephew Philippe, has closed multi-year agreements with the Bangladesh Football Federation, the Laos Football Federation and the Football Association of Thailand.
For each, Infront said, it would handle distribution of international media rights for home matches, including both qualifiers and friendlies. The company will market all live/delayed, highlight and news rights across all platforms and for all territories outside the respective domestic territories.
None of the trio is exactly a power in the global game, with Thailand currently 142 in the FIFA rankings, Bangladesh 167 and Laos 178. Asian qualifiers failed to win a single match at last year's World Cup in Brazil.
Ian Mathie, managing director of Infront Pan-Asia, said: "Football is king in Asia with national team matches and competitions creating key content for broadcasters...We are honoured to add these emerging football properties to our portfolio."
Infront already has a partnership with the Football Association of 2022 World Cup host Qatar, handled through the joint venture, AspireInfront.
It was announced in February that Dalian Wanda had reached a deal to acquire Infront from the private equity firm Bridgepoint for €1.05 billion.
Disclosure of the new agreements comes just ahead of the Ordinary Congress of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to be held in Bahrain at the end of this month.
Original title by Inside World Football: Hat-trick of Asian deals boost Infront sales portfolio
Interview with Thomas Lund: to follow new trends and bring younger generations to the sport
17 Jun 2024 16:00
Related coverage
ZTE expand partnership with Carlton FC
01 Dec 2015
Evergrande Group partner with Sportradar
17 Aug 2016
26 Nov 2014
Ctrip to partner with OGC Nice
06 Jul 2016
Russia to help China develop ice hockey
15 Dec 2015
More from Yutang Sports
SPORTACCORD 2024 INSIGHTS: Major Technology Trends Shaping Sports Sector
03 Jun 2024
Expert insight | New changes on UEFA EUROs: growing maturity of Hisense and other Chinese brands
22 Jul 2024
Hisense Named Official Partner of FIFA Club World Cup 2025
01 Nov 2024
SPORTACCORD 2024 INSIGHTS: Paris 2024 here we come!
02 Jul 2024
Interview with Yiannis Exarchos: to narrate Olympic story in new ways and promote positive values
01 Jul 2024
Yutang Sports
loading...