Facebook has been padding its video offering by acquiring streaming rights for major sporting events and it appears that the company is working on a big deal in this space. According to a new report, Facebook is a contender to acquire broadcast rights for the English Premier League in several markets across Southeast Asia.
Bloomberg reports that Facebook is negotiating rights with the Premier League which will enable the social network to broadcast the English Premier League in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The company is expected to make an announcement in the next couple of weeks.
The exclusive three-year broadcast deal will highlight that Facebook is serious about making its offering a hub for sports fans. This will also be a great way for Facebook to get people in the region to spend more time on its platform.
It’s obviously not the only company in the running for these rights. BeIN Sports, a broadcaster based in Qatar, is trying to secure the rights as well. It reportedly won the ongoing three-year deal to screen all 380 English Premier League matches in the region for $250 million.
TV Sports Markets, an online trade publication, reports that Facebook is close to securing the rights. If the reports are accurate then we may see Facebook making a formal announcement in this regard soon.
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