Menu
Finance

Source: Chinese Firm Could Buy Infront Media To Make Push Into Entertainment

China-based property firm Dalian Wanda has "emerged as the frontrunner in the auction for Infront Media, the Swiss sports marketing company" run by the nephew of FIFA President Sepp Blatter, according to sources cited by Massoudi, Chassany & Wildau of the FINANCIAL TIMES. Infront "specialises in distributing media rights for sports broadcasting, including the Asian distribution rights" for the '10 and '14 FIFA World Cup tournaments. A source said that Dalian is "nearing a deal that would see it pay" around $1.23B. It is the "latest sign of the Chinese company's desire to expand beyond commercial real estate and into entertainment." A source added that the deal "could be announced within the next few weeks" as Infront's private equity owners, Bridgepoint, "look to sell the asset they acquired" for $674M in '11. Wanda Chair Wang Jianlin "has made clear his ambition to move deeper into the entertainment business." Wanda, which also owns U.S. movie chain AMC Theatres, raised $3.7B last week "in what was the largest initial public offering in Hong Kong this year." U.S.-based Providence Equity "were also said to have been involved in the auction" for Infront (FINANCIAL TIMES, 12/20).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/12/22/Finance/Infront.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/12/22/Finance/Infront.aspx

CLOSE