FPT acquires national football broadcasting rights with record fee

The tech giant will pay VND57 billion ($2.29 million) per season for four years and get broadcasting rights for the nation’s premier football competition, V. League and for other professional contests organized in the country.

The deal is expected to help the VPF improve the quality of competitions, including setting up and using VAR technology, hiring foreign referees, training domestic refs and enhancing player quality for the clubs.

The V. League broadcasting rights were first made available for purchase in 2010 and An Vien Television (AVG) signed a 20-year contract for them at VND6 billion a year with a 10% annual increase. But, after the VPF was founded in 2011, the contract was terminated and the rights returned to Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

In 2017, the rights were sold to sports and digital company Next Media. In addition to TV advertising benefits, the VPF would receive VND1 billion a season from Next Media for the first four years and this would increase to VND2 billion in 2021. The contract between the two sides will expire after the 2022 season. Next Media had priority for a new contract, but they only agreed to pay VND5 billion a season. FPT then stepped in and outbid Next Media’s offer by more than 10 times to clinch the deal.

The 2022 season of V. League features 13 clubs. After 21 rounds, Hanoi FC are table toppers with 40 points, followed by Hai Phong FC with 38.