By Andrew Warshaw
September 6 – The Russian Premier League has sealed a three-year media rights deal with IMG, the latest move in the country’s increasing affluence at club level.
Big-spending Zenit St Petersburg this week splashed out over €80 million (£60 million/$100 million) on Porto striker Hulk and Benfica midfielder Axel Witsel, two transfers that reflected the growing wealth of a clutch of Russian clubs funded by billionaire owners.
The IMG deal will run through to 2015 and includes the marketing and distribution of the league outside Russia.
IMG said it has already secured contracts with over 20 broadcasters including NHK in Japan, ESPN in Brazil and Polsat in Poland, adding that it anticipates further deals to be concluded in the coming months.
IMG has secured the rights to market live and highlights coverage of all 240 league games, along with rights for internet streaming, mobile phones, DVD and in-flight and in-ship.
The current Premier League season has seen Russian football revert to Europe’s traditional autumn to spring calendar in order to aid planning for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Michael Mellor, senior vice-president of IMG Media, said: “The increasing investment of the Russian clubs in top world talent has seen the quality of football and competition rise and the league is now rated the seventh best by UEFA.
“We are sure this will continue and enable IMG to utilise our worldwide international sales team in 60 offices in 30 countries around the world to grow exposure of the RfPL over the next three years.”
Meanwhile, Russia 2018 has confirmed that World Cup host cities will be named on September 29.
At present, 13 cities and 15 stadiums have applied but these will be cut to 12 stadiums in 11 cities, divided into four geographical regions.
According to agency reports, the two cities likely to be cut are Saransk and Yekaterinburg.
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