BBC reports that with just weeks remaining before the World Cup kicks off, broadcasters in China and India have yet to reach deals with FIFA for tournament rights. This means the world’s two largest football fan markets may be unable to watch the tournament through traditional channels.
The commercial negotiations involve substantial sums, with both sides still divided on key terms including pricing and broadcast scope. For hundreds of millions of football fans in China and India, this could mark the first time in recent years they cannot watch the World Cup through conventional broadcasters.