England’s Premier League sues Chinese broadcast partner for US$215m

The league accuses PPLive Sports International Ltd of skipping a US$210.3 million payment for live matches and another US$5 million for highlight packages and interest, according to a filing in its British court case

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TV rights have led to the Premier League suing a Chinese broadcaster. Photo: EPA

Published: 12:36pm, 8 Oct 2020Updated: 10:52pm, 8 Oct 2020

England’s Premier League is suing a Chinese broadcaster for US$215.3 million, saying the partner failed to make a payment for rights to show live matches from the world’s richest football league.

The league accused PPLive Sports International Ltd, a subsidiary of Suning, of skipping a US$210.3 million payment for live matches and another US$5 million for highlight packages and interest, according to a filing in its British court case.

Sports around the world have been hurt by cancellations and restrictions on matches as governments restrict public gatherings to limit the pandemic. While the Premier League has some of the richest broadcast contracts, its clubs have suffered with empty stadiums and demands for rebates from broadcasters for rearranged matches and schedules.

PPLive said in an August 26 letter that it would break the agreements, and the league in its filing said there was no legal basis for the broadcaster to do so. The league has since signed a less lucrative deal in China with Tencent.

The Premier League declined to comment. A spokeswoman for PPLive didn’t respond to queries by email and WeChat during the Golden Week public holiday in China.