Eleven Sports signs Taiwan baseball deal
Details
Rebecca Hawkes
| 04 February 2019

Global sports provider Eleven Sports has sealed a deal with Unilions Pro Baseball Team in Taiwan to show all their fixtures in the domestic Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).

The partnership is Eleven Sports’ second in the CPBL. The pay-TV broadcaster already holds rights to air each match played by defending champions, the Lamigo Monkeys.

Eleven Sports also has a deal, secured in 2017, with local basketball team the Formosa Dreamers.

The company said its Taiwan service recorded 50% higher viewer ratings figures in 2018, along with an 88% rise in its market share. The Lamigo Monkeys’ audience grew 44% in the year.

“Our aim is to meet un-met demand and make locally relevant sports content readily available for fans in Taiwan. We are very pleased to see our local approach reaping the rewards with significant growth in viewing figures and market share,” said Simone Kang, managing director, Eleven Sports in Taiwan.

“Baseball is very popular in Taiwan and we are looking forward to collaborating with Unilions to expand their reach and grow their fanbase amongst loyal sports followers across the country.”

Tai-An Su, general manager of Unilions Pro Baseball Team, said: “We are very excited to partner with Eleven Sports...We understand their strategy to promote the action on-air, online and via social media and we see synergies that will enable us to work together to create a successful team and build a loyal following across the country.”

Subscribers to Eleven Sports in Taiwan can also watch international events including the English Premier League, FA Cup, NBA, and ATP Tennis.