EURO media deals for China and Japan

The UEFA European Championship can be followed from China and Japan this summer (©AFP)UEFA has finalised four major contracts for media rights in China and Japan for UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria and Switzerland this summer.

UEFA has finalised four major contracts for media rights in China and Japan for UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria and Switzerland this summer.

Growing importance
The deals follow a recent visit to China and Japan by the UEFA President, Michel Platini, and UEFA says that the agreements reflect "the growing importance of the region for UEFA and the increasing interest of football fans there in its competitions".

CCTV deal
CCTV, the largest national free-to-air broadcaster in the Chinese market – reaching over 350 million homes in the country – has been awarded the television rights for all 31 matches at UEFA EURO 2008™, while SINA.com has been granted the new media rights.

Wide coverage
CCTV will undertake wide coverage of the competition, by broadcasting all the games live on either CCTV5 (27 matches) or CCTV Soccer Channel (four matches), as well as highlights programmes at peak local time. SINA.com will show all 31 finals fixtures live and free of charge through its online and mobile services, enhancing the Chinese football fans' experience by allowing them new alternative opportunities for viewing games.

Japan agreements
In Japan, the free-to-air channel TBS will broadcast a selection of UEFA EURO 2008™ matches live. In addition, this will be complemented by full match coverage and programming offered by the pay-TV platform WOWOW TV. Both TBS and WOWOW are historic broadcasters of the UEFA European Championship and will provide full and extensive coverage of the final tournament for Japan.

Enormous passion
"China is one of the most important football publics in the world and thanks to CCTV and SINA, Chinese football lovers will now have full opportunity to enjoy the entire UEFA European Championship live on television, the internet and through their mobile phones," said Mr Platini. "In Japan, we know that there is enormous interest and passion for European football, and with the agreements with TBS and WOWOW TV, Japanese fans are fully catered for.

Asian hope
"We hope that the great interest the Asians have developed for European football will elicit more people taking up the sport," the UEFA President added, "and that soon we will see the emergence of some great Asian football talents."