The English Football Premier League's bid to expand is well placed with a new deal that will see matches broadcast on free to air television, by Guangdong TV. This move sees football moving into China (the world’s most populated country), aiming to dislodge the NBA as the biggest sport industry in China.

Many Premier League executives arrived in Beijing for the Asia Trophy. Pay TV group WinTV currently own the rights to all premier football matches and have done since 2007. Although the Premier League failed to convince one of the top four clubs to appear in the Asia Trophy Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham and Hull City join the local side Beijing Guoan in the competition.

Manchester United played a friendly in Hangzhou on Sunday and other clubs have also targeted China as a priority for long-term growth. The move to bring broadcasts free will see much more of the population watching the lucrative sport, with the Premier League hoping for replication of the success they have enjoyed elsewhere in the world.

News Source:
Guardian