00:00FIFA is still trying to tie up several deals, including in the world's two largest countries, India and China.
00:06Now, according to multiple reports in Chinese media, state broadcaster CCTV was initially quoted between $250 and $300 million by
00:17FIFA for the rights.
00:18Even though that figure was later halved, there's been no report of a confirmed broadcast deal.
00:24China has a huge football fan base and FIFA says TV, digital and social content around the 2022 World Cup
00:32reached close to 1.2 billion people in China.
00:36And almost half of all viewing and online platforms globally came from China.
00:42Now, China's team hasn't qualified, but the major issue appears to be the time difference with North America.
00:47For example, this game between Norway and France, featuring two of the tournament's biggest stars, is on at 3 p
00:54.m. in Boston.
00:56Well, that's 3 a.m. in China. And if there's less viewers, that means lower advertising revenue.
01:02It's a similar problem for India when it comes to time zones.
01:05Also, broadcasters are wary after the 2022 World Cup rights holder paid $60 million and only got half of that
01:13back in advertising revenue.
01:15Another sticking point is that the World Cup falls at the same time as the Women's Cricket T20 World Cup,
01:22and cricket is India's top sport.
01:24So, what happens now?
01:26Well, a FIFA spokesperson told China's Global Times newspaper that discussions are ongoing and must remain confidential at this stage.
01:35And there are unconfirmed reports that a FIFA delegation is heading to Beijing for talks.
01:40Meanwhile, for India, a deal is expected to be announced later this week, but the highest offer so far has
01:47been $20 million.
01:49So, it remains to be seen how much for.
01:52Well, let's get more on this.
01:53Tom Basin is Assistant Professor in Sport Management at Coventry University.
01:58Tom, welcome to the programme.
01:59Just how damaging would it be for FIFA and the World Cup as a brand if deals weren't agreed with
02:06major markets like China?
02:09Good afternoon.
02:10Yeah, I think this is potentially very serious for FIFA.
02:13You know, we're talking about a very large proportion of the global markets.
02:17FIFA talk about football bringing happiness around the world, and they talk about delivering audiences everywhere.
02:23And that doesn't really work if a big chunk of the world's population isn't able to watch.
02:28And the World Cup is coming up very quickly.
02:32FIFA are definitely going to want to get this sorted soon rather than later.
02:35But I also think that the money that you're talking about, $250 million or so, that sort of money isn't
02:42going to make or break FIFA financially in the short term.
02:45But it could mean that FIFA takes a big hit to its reputation.
02:48So, Tom, is this dispute about football and about time zones, or is it about the changing economics of sports
02:56broadcasting?
02:58So, I think those factors that you mentioned are really important.
03:01The fact that neither India or China will have teams at the World Cup.
03:04The fact that the games are going to be happening while most of the country are in bed.
03:08That's automatically going to lower the value of the rights in those countries.
03:13But, yeah, I think we are starting to see changes to the global sports markets more broadly.
03:18In the last 20 years, we've seen rapid growth in the value of sports broadcasting rights.
03:24And that's something that's starting to level off now.
03:27And that's something we're seeing all over the world, not just in Asian markets.
03:31FIFA very much struggled to sell the broadcasting rights to their Club World Cup last summer.
03:36And so, I think this leveling off is something that we are definitely starting to see.
03:41And could this affect future negotiations when it comes to World Cup rights, particularly in emerging markets?
03:48Yeah, and I think that's just potentially something that FIFA are going to be really concerned about.
03:52If China or India manage to reduce their costs, then other countries are going to start asking,
03:58why are we paying the full amount?
04:00Although, we do have to remember that India and China will have far greater bargaining power than any other emerging
04:06countries.
04:08Brilliant, Tom. Thanks for those insights.
04:09Tom Basin, Assistant Professor in Sport Management at Coventry University.
04:14So, Geoff, we'll see what happens with those rights.
04:16Back to you.
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