NFL signs digital rights partnership with Tencent for Chinese streaming
Tencent Holdings Limited landed a three-year agreement to become the exclusive digital streaming media partner of the NFL in China, according to NFL.com.
The deal covers the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons. It will allow Tencent to air live and on-demand preseason, Thursday, Sunday, and Monday Night Football games, some Sunday afternoon games, as well as the playoffs, the Pro Bowl, and the Super Bowl.
Tencent will also air the draft, combine, and NFL Game Day, as well as "NFL Hard Knocks" and "A Football Life."
League content will be available on both mobile and desktop on 10 platforms. Tencent is the No. 1 digital sports provider in China, servicing hundreds of millions of users.
"We are very excited about the NFL's future in China and proud of our partnership with Tencent," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. "We are confident that this agreement will provide our growing number of Chinese fans with a better viewing experience and more opportunities for engagement with the NFL than ever before."