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Soccer
World Cup fans in China and India face broadcast uncertainty
TL;DR
Millions of football fans in India and China are uncertain about World Cup broadcasts as broadcasters have not finalized deals with FIFA. This situation is unusual given the proximity to the event's start date.
Key points
- Millions of fans in India and China face broadcast uncertainty
- Broadcasters have not reached deals with FIFA
- Negotiations are ongoing over the cost of showing the games
- Unusual for TV rights deals to be unresolved so close to the event
[NurPhoto via Getty Images]
Millions of football fans in India and China face uncertainty over whether or not the World Cup will be shown in their countries as broadcasters have yet to reach deals with football's governing body, Fifa.
It is unusual for TV rights deals to not be agreed for an event of this scale with just weeks to go before it is due to start. Such agreements are typically settled months, if not years, before the opening ceremony.
Local media in both countries have said Fifa and broadcasters are still wrangling over the cost of showing the games.
Fifa told the the BBC that talks in China and India "are ongoing and must remain confidential at this stage", without commenting on the fees involved.
A total of 180 territories have now completed deals with Fifa, the global football organisation said.
But a handful have yet to secure the rights to broadcast the 2026 World Cup, including India and China - which together account for around a third of the world's population.
Fifa's initial offer to state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) for rights to the tournament was reportedly as high as $300m (£220m).
Fifa has now lowered the price to between $120m and $150m, according to state-controlled newspaper Beijing Daily. But that is still more than double CCTV's budget for the event, the paper said.
Beijing Daily said that as China has not qualified for the tournament there would be less interest in the event amongst football fans in the country.
The paper also noted that the time difference between China and North America means that many high-profile games will be played in the early hours of the morning for Chinese fans.
Deals between China and Fifa were struck far earlier for recent World Cups.
Fifa announced in November 2017 that it had reached an exclusive agreement with CCTV to broadcast both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
While an agreement has not yet been struck between Fifa and an Indian broadcaster, local media reported this week that a deal was likely to be announced soon.
Q&A
Why are World Cup broadcasts uncertain in India and China?
Broadcast uncertainty in India and China stems from unresolved negotiations between FIFA and local broadcasters over the cost of airing the games.
When does the World Cup start and why is the broadcast deal important?
The World Cup is set to start in a few weeks, and securing broadcast deals is crucial for fans to access the matches and for broadcasters to generate revenue.
What typically happens with World Cup broadcast rights agreements?
Typically, broadcast rights agreements for the World Cup are settled months or even years in advance, making the current situation highly unusual.
