According to Rik Dovey, regional managing director at ESS, "From an advertising point of view, we have seen double-digit growth on key properties through English Premier League, plus other football, golf and tennis events. We are also strong on sports news."
He added that there were encouraging signs of recovery reflected in the strong ad growth, which highlighted that the market had become more resilient to external pressures. "There are clearly signs that the recovery is underway. In China, the big advantage we've had is offering a separate buy for that market. In China, there are all local buys in sports. Before, there was just CCTV; now the key content is there, so we are seeing more interest and renewals by local companies."
ESS has also renewed syndication deals in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Mynamar with terrestrial stations Channel 3, BBTV7, VTV-3, TV5, CTN and Mayawaddy TV respectively. The deal will allow viewers to catch live matches of the EPL and takes distribution to 128 million households for ESPN and more than 54 million households for Star Sports.
ESPN Star Sports scores more ads, sponsors' deals
ESPN Star Sports (ESS), which marks its eighth anniversary this month, claims the number of sponsorship renewals and repeat advertisers has shot up well above 80 per cent this year compared with 2003.