Manchester United most influential team on China’s internet, but Bundesliga is top league
English giants ahead of Bayern Munich and Liverpool according to sports marketing company
Manchester United is the most influential team online in China, according to a new report published on Thursday.
Shanghai-based Mailman Group, which works with major teams and sporting bodies to build their digital presence in China, said the top three teams are United, Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
The report assessed teams on number of Weibo followers and engagement, WeChat presence and reads, live stream, and their website, e-commerce and apps.
The German Bundesliga was named the most influential league online in China, followed by the English Premier League, Spain’s Primera Liga and Italy’s Serie A.
“The Bundesliga has developed a comprehensive content strategy to promote all 18 clubs online, launching viral campaigns to reach millions of fans,” the report states.
“Their partnership with CCTV5 over the last 20+ years has strengthened their position as number one, with the highest cumulative and average TV audience on this channel.”
According to the report, the top five most influential players on the Chinese web are Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Gareth Bale, Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney.
