Ali Sports Get Broadcasting Rights To NFL Games In China

Ali Sports, backed by Alibaba, announced that it reached an agreement with the NFL to broadcast its games "in the Chinese mainland for a period of one year," according to CRI. American football fans "can watch NFL games through video streaming website Youku, TV box Tianmao Mohe and other mobile platforms of Alibaba." The announcement "came one day after LeSports inked a major deal with Major League Baseball on Thursday." This "marks four major sports leagues in the U.S. now entering the Chinese mainland" (CRI, 1/8). BIDNESS ETC reported additionally, Tencent "expanded its digital partnership" with the NBA. The deal "allows Tencent to feature games, highlights and original NBA programming in China." In '14, China’s CCTV "struck a similar broadcasting deal" with the NHL (BIDNESS ETC, 1/8).