MUMBAI: Strengthening its soccer property, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has acquired the exclusive broadcast rights to telecast the 2016 edition of the International Champions Cup.
Having acquired the rights for India, SPNI will telecast the matches live and exclusive on Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD channels. The tournament will also be streamed live on the SonyLIV app.
The matches this year will be held across North America, Europe, Australia, and China. The tourney will see 17 top clubs from across the world in action.
The International Champions Cup will begin on 22 July and run through 13 August.
The International Champions Cup 2016 is the first tournament of the 2016-17 football season. It will kick-off the 2016-17 club season across the world.
The 4th edition of this competition will see the return of the winners from the past three seasons – Real Madrid C.F., Manchester United F.C., Paris Saint-Germain, along with other illustrious clubs from across the world.
The 2016 International Champions Cup will feature the elite clubs from across Spain, Italy, Germany, England, France, Scotland and Australia, along with a host of top players in world football.
The 17 clubs participating this year in the International Champions Cup are Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool FC, Chelsea FC, Leicester City FC, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur, Melbourne Victory, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and Celtic FC.
The acquisition of the broadcast and digital rights of the 2016 International Champions Cup is a strategic approach by the sports cluster of SPNI towards bringing the best of football to India. After the successful broadcast of the recently concluded Uefa Euro 2016 and Copa America Centenario, the sports cluster of SPN has added the International Champions Cup to its club football portfolio and continues to assert its position as a one-stop destination for football fans in India.
Sony Pictures Networks India president, distribution & sports business Rajesh Kaul said, “The acquisition of the exclusive broadcast rights of the 2016 edition of the International Champions Cup in India reinforces the sports cluster of SPN’s leadership in sports broadcast in India. The 2016 International Champions Cup is a gold standard of football with Europe’s elite clubs participating in this tournament. After the success of the Uefa Euro 2016, we are looking forward to broadcasting the season-opening tournament of club football, thereby setting the stage for a great season.”