LaLiga and brand Spain look to build Chinese presence with CMG broadcast deal

September 11 – LaLiga has returned to China Media Group (CMG) as its official broadcast partner in China.

The new agreement will allow Chinese fans to watch live matches across CMG’s various platforms, providing extensive coverage of LaLiga’s 2024/25 season.

Formalised at a signing ceremony in Beijing, which was attended by LaLiga President Javier Tebas and CMG President Shen Haixiong, the agreement also builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in July 2024 during a visit by Shen Haixiong to LaLiga’s headquarters in Madrid, laying the foundation for closer cooperation between CMG and LaLiga.

The signing coincided with a state visit to China by Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez.

Both LALIGA and CMG have said they are committed to furthering football exchanges between Spain and China, fostering “strategic collaborations that will elevate the sport and deepen cultural ties” between the two nations.

“This agreement marks a new chapter in our relationship with CMG. China remains a key market for LALIGA, and we are thrilled to bring our league’s unique passion and excitement to Chinese fans through one of the most influential media platforms in the country,” said Tebas.

“The partnership also aligns perfectly with Spain’s broader diplomatic efforts to deepen ties with China, and we believe that football can be a powerful tool to build bridges and foster mutual understanding.”

The Spanish league has a shaky history with Chinese media headlined by its termination of its Chinese broadcast partnership with Super Sports Media in 2022, claiming the media company failed to keep up with its payments. The deal with Super Sports had seven years left to run.

Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1732338685labto1732338685ofdlr1732338685owedi1732338685sni@g1732338685niwe.1732338685yrrah1732338685