Chinese Super League: Ti'ao Dongli extends and negotiates a decrease (-31%) in domestic TV rights

The Chinese media rights agency Ti'ao Dongli Sports Media Ltd. (CSM), has extended its domestic TV rights to the CSL for five additional years, until 2025 on 25/01/2018.

According to the new agreement, Ti'ao Dongli (CSM) is expected to pay a guaranteed minimum of ¥11bn (€1.4bn on January 29, 2013) over 10 years (2015-2025), according to Chinese media, or ¥1.1bn a year (€140m), which would represent a 31% decrease compared to the annual amount negotiated during the previous contract. According to Chinese media, this decrease is explained by the restrictions on the number of foreign players (see below) taken by the Chinese Football Association, on 16/01/2017.

Ti'ao Dongli Sports Media Ltd. won the 2016-2020 CSL domestic TV tender, on 25/09/2015. Ti'ao Dongli was originally to pay a guaranteed minimum of ¥8bn (€1.12bn on 28/09/2015) over the period (¥1.6bn or €224m per year, on 28/09/2015), according to Chinese media:
• ¥1bn (€140m) for the 2016 and 2017 seasons;
• ¥2bn (€280m) for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 seasons.

The CSL allegedly sent a letter to three of CSM's competitors. If…