English Premier League seals broadcasting deal with Thai Telco

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Jasmine International has secured the rights to broadcast the English Premier League for at least three years for $360 million, starting with the 2025-26 season. Jasmine is replacing TrueVisions as the Premier League’s broadcasting partner in Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. 

The broadcasting rights for Jasmine include live game coverages, replays, and highlights for the 600,000 customers who subscribe to the Jas service. The previous Premier League and TrueVisions deal was valued at $202 million.

Jasmine considerably outbids TrueVisions, with an additional option for the Premier League to decide if they extend for an extra three years with Jasmine International. The deal soars to $866 million for a six-year broadcasting deal.  

Since the broadcasting rights acquisition confirmation, Jasmine’s shares have increased by 8.4%. The target is to increase the 600,000 customers to 3 million customers out of a total population of 96 million during the first year of the Premier League coverage.

The commercial significance highlights the growth and rise of the Premier League within the Southeast Asia region. There is a growing competitive market for Asian broadcasters to get a hold of quality football leagues to broadcast.

Streaming platforms continue to splash the cash to broadcast sports. Football has again secured another significant financial boost with the MLS on Apple TV and the Premier League expanding to three Southeast Asian countries.

If football continues on this trajectory, there are still many countries with streaming platforms ready to follow suit as Jasmine did if they manage to succeed in their target aims of the Premier League broadcasting deal. 

The three-year deal with a further three-year extension in the Premier League’s favour allows them to be flexible in reaching a new agreement with a rival of Jasmine if the broadcasting deal achieves mass customer growth. If Jasmine’s ambitious move does not achieve the expected target, the Premier League will be secure.

It holds all the power in this deal but will still receive significant financial gain if Jasmine’s competitors are not interested in broadcasting the Premier League after three years. 

Many streaming platforms and broadcasters in the Southeast Asian region will watch this deal’s significance, and if Jasmine International is successful, fierce competition will be on the horizon. 

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Football Victoria partners with SportsAid for enhanced player safety

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Football Victoria (FV) has confirmed a partnership with Sports Aid, which has been named the Official Medical Partner for all FV events.

The collaboration will ensure that participants in these prominent tournaments benefit from top-tier medical support and first aid services.

Established in 2023, Sports Aid has rapidly positioned itself as a leading provider of medical and safety expertise in Australian sport. Based in Melbourne, the organisation has expanded nationwide, offering its services at a variety of events, from grassroots sports to corporate tournaments.

With over 70 partnerships across the country, Sports Aid’s team of accredited professionals—including first aid responders, sports trainers, and event safety specialists—plays a pivotal role in promoting athlete welfare and event safety.

Under the alliance, Sports Aid will deliver medical personnel, including first aid responders and sports trainers, at FV’s major competitions and events throughout Victoria.

Their on-site presence will provide immediate medical assistance for injuries or health concerns, mitigate risks associated with physical activity, and enhance overall safety for players and spectators alike.

FV’s Executive Manager – Commercial, Chris Speldewinde spoke about the role Sports Aid will play in improving Victorian football.

“Their expertise ensures the safety of our participants, which is paramount in delivering outstanding sporting experiences.” he said in a press release.

Sports Aid’s founder, James Theodorakopoulos, also commented on the partnership.

“We are thrilled to be working with Football Victoria. Our primary focus is on safety, and we’re committed to ensuring that every player and participant has a seamless medical experience at FV events,” he said in a press release.

“It’s not just about responding to injuries, but also ensuring the overall well-being of everyone involved.”

Football Victoria adds Sports Aid on top of recent PILA, VETO Sports and Novotel Preston who all play a specific role in ensuring players involved with FV get the best out of their game.

FV have been focusing heavily on developing local football with facility upgrades, equipment partnerships as well as launching their GO Family football program aimed at improving fitness and building stronger family connections.

This specific partnership with Sports Aid is another that will play a positive role in the sport across the state.

FIFA, Qatar and world organisations launch Legacy Fund

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FIFA has invested $76.7 million into the World Cup 2022 Legacy Fund, in collaboration with Qatar, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Previously announced in November 2022, the fund will aid a number of social programs across the world.

To launch the Legacy Fund, the initiative was presented and signed on an online meeting.

Attendees included FIFA President Gianni Infantino, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WTO Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Secretary General H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi.

The FIFA World Cup Legacy Fund will be deployed across the following streams:

Public Health/Occupational Health and Safety: The Legacy Fund will contribute to programs which aim to improve working conditions, and health and wellbeing. In particular, FIFA will support WHO’s Beat the Heat initiative, to protect people from the hazards caused by extreme heat and the advance of climate change.

Education: In conjuncture with the WTO and International Trade Centre, FIFA will bolster the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy Fund, a program which seeks to empower female entrepreneurs. 

Refugees: In partnership with the UNHCR, FIFA will assist schemes which aim to strengthen vulnerable peoples’ self-sufficiency and access to basic amenities.

Football development: FIFA will place greater emphasis on finding young talents across remote, marginalised and developing countries through the Aspire Academy and the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, headed by Arsène Wenger. 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his pride for the Legacy Fund.

“The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Legacy Fund is a landmark project that builds on the unprecedented impact of the tournament from a sustainability point of view,” he said via press release.

“FIFA is taking the concept of a legacy fund to the next level in terms of reach and impact by tackling key priorities such as refugees, occupational health, education, and football development. I would like to thank the UN Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization for their commitment to, and cooperation on, this historic initiative.”

WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the importance of the partnership.

“The worlds of sport and health must collaborate to create safe, clean and healthy environments for all people engaged in the preparation, delivery and legacy of mega sport events, including workers, athletes, spectators, and communities,” he said in a press release.

To learn more about the Legacy Fund, FIFA has launched a website.

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