TrueVisions retains rights for Thai Premier League

The leading Thai pay-TV operator’s existing deal was due to expire at the end of the current campaign and the company managed to secure an extension to its contract after outbidding two rivals, CTH and GMM Z. 

Given the fact that little was known about the bidding process for TPL’s television deal after it had been postponed in March, Siam Sport Syndicate, which oversees the Football Association of Thailand’s commercial operations for the domestic competition, confirmed the auction was conducted transparently.

“Originally, we intended to hold the auction for TPL’s new three-year television deal after the FAT’s presidential election. However, with the vote to find a new FAT president yet to be staged, we were afraid that further delay in the bidding process could cause damage for those involved.

“We consequently decided to start the bidding and we had Sir David Richards, the Premier League chairman, as a consultant in the process. We proceeded with everything according to international standards. And, we got TrueVisions at the end. The deal TrueVisions won includes the right to broadcast League One [second-tier division], FA Cup and League Cup.

“The proceeds we get from selling the TV rights would be given to the clubs three times over the course of the season: before the start of the season, and at the end of the first leg and the second leg of the campaign. The clubs would get not less than Bt20 million each year. All other teams competing in our professional leagues would get more money,” said Adisai Warinsirikul, the Siam Sport managing director.

Ong-art Prapakamol, TrueVisions chief commercial officer, said the success in retaining the TPL rights enhanced their status as the leading broadcaster of sporting events, internationally and domestically.

“We want to ram the message across to our customers that we’re ‘The King of Sports’. We’ll try to provide our clients with the best content to ensure that they could watch all the sports they want to see.”