Online Sports Channels Tap Into English Premier League Fan Base In China

English Premier League fans on the Chinese mainland "are getting the added options of watching the games online," according to Ma Yue of the SHANGHAI DAILY. Beijing-based Supersports has the rights until the '18-19 season and reportedly paid more than 1B yuan ($162.5M) "for the exclusive mainland deal." As TV viewers "fretted if the games would be broadcast live, PPTV.com, a video and live program provider, struck a deal" at $11M for 380 games this season. That "was a massive jump" from last year’s $1.1M. PPTV will offer four matches free for online viewing "but will charge for the other matches." PPTV Marketing Dir Zhou Liang said that it "would decide on the exact fees after taking Supersports, which also has its own website, charges into account." Supersports "is offering four of the 10 first-round EPL games for free on its website www.ssports.com" (SHANGHAI DAILY, 8/14).