By David Gold
August 21 – Manchester United’s dedicated television channel, MUTV, is to launch in Japan after the Premier League club joined forces with Japanese television station Fuji TV.
The new three-year deal will give Fuji TV the chance to broadcast content from MUTV in Japan, covering matches, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.
Documentaries, full match coverage and preview shows will also be among Fuji’s broadcasts over the next three years.
The footage will be available on Fuji ONE, TWO and NEXT, and will help promote United in Japan, home to almost four million of the club’s fans.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson this summer signed arguably the world’s top Japanese player at present, Shinji Kagawa (pictured below, right), from Borussia Dortmund.
Kagawa played a key role in the Dortmund side which has won back-to-back Bundesliga titles and his arrival at Old Trafford is sure to prompt a surge of Japanese interest in the Premier League giants’ fortunes.
“MUTV is a must for any Manchester United fan, offering up-to-date and exclusive news, interviews and archive footage,” Richard Arnold, United’s commercial director, said.
“The dedicated channel is delighted to be partnering with Fuji TV, one of Japan’s major television channels, to bring MUTV to Japan.
“This partnership further demonstrates Manchester United’s global reach and allows us to engage with the followers we have in Japan.”
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