News Corp. "has secured rights to show online digital clips for English Premier League football and other leagues in Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia, coinciding with the launch of new Internet and mobile products later this week," according to Jennifer Saba of REUTERS. The mobile app and website are News Corp.'s "first product rollouts since it separated from the cable, television and movie studio assets now known as 21st Century Fox Inc in July." CEO Robert Thomson said that "this is the new company's first investment outside the United States, United Kingdom and Australia." Thomson "declined to provide financial details about the investment." News Corp. "has been ramping up its sports digital portfolio as a way to broaden its audience and entice readership" (REUTERS, 8/12).
THE 'SWEET' SPOT: MEDIAWEEK's Chloe Smith reported News Corp. "has also won the digital rights" for the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Brasileiro and Major League Soccer for the next two seasons. Thomson said the digital delivery of European football in Asia is "the sweetest of sweet spots" due to the growing globalization and digitalization trends. News Corp. "worked with the Premier League directly to secure the digital rights for the Premier League in Vietnam." It "also worked directly with Bundesliga to secure rights for the German football league in each of the three countries." Sports media rights specialist MP & Silva "brokered the rights for the Premier League for Indonesia and Japan and for all the other leagues in all three countries" (MEDIAWEEK, 8/12).
