The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) has signed a broadcasting deal with MP & Silva, with the announcement of a six-year deal worth NT$2.142 billion (US$70.48 million).
It is a big bonanza for the four CPBL clubs, as each team stands to receive NT$89.25 million each year from the new broadcasting rights agreement.
CPBL commissioner Hwang Jenn-tai said the league is delighted to partner with MP & Silva and that the deal would open the door to more commercial opportunities for the CPBL and the four clubs.
For the past 17 years, CPBL games have mostly been the exclusive domain of Videoland Network, which first obtained the broadcasting rights in a three-year deal worth NT$1.5 billion in 1997.
Some fans are concerned about how the games will be distributed among Taiwan’s cable television stations, which differ from region to region. It has been reported that Videoland, FTV, Fox Sports and Public Television Service are all possible partners for broadcasting the games in the coming season.
Headquartered in London and Singapore, MP & Silva manages and distributes media rights, with a focus on sports. In partnership with beIN Sport, the company holds the rights to English Premier League soccer matches in Taiwan.
Announcing the deal, MP & Silva representative Cho Su-hyeon said: “We have the confidence to expand the baseball market in Taiwan. Our plan is to promote CPBL games in Japan, South Korea and China.”
According to a company statement, MP & Silva will be the exclusive adviser to the CPBL on all media rights sales to all broadcasters, as well as the production of the programs.
The agreement gives the company worldwide rights and it includes all regular-season games, the All-Star Series and the Taiwan Series.
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