Fifa signs groundbreaking deal for soccer in China
The next two Fifa World Cups will be broadcast on China's national TV station, China Central Television, after Fifa signed a five-year deal with the broadcaster.
CCTV will also show other Fifa events and tournaments, including the Confederations Cup and Women's World Cup. CCTV's 38 channels attract more than a billion viewers throughout the country.
"Fifa is delighted to have reached such a significant agreement with CCTV," said Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke said. "We believe that this is the start of a long-term co-operation that will help to further strengthen football in China and make it even more popular."
The deal comes in a week that saw the Chinese Super League (CSL) report the best attendances and sponsorship figures in its six-year history. The league secured US$21.97 million in sponsorship last season, and 160 million fans attended matches.
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