LONDON: The English Premier League has awarded MP & Silva its live broadcast rights in the Middle East and North Africa region for all 380 matches per season until the 2015-16 campaign, while Canal Plus has extended its deal for the League’s rights in France.

MP & Silva’s three-year deal, which will begin from the 2013-14 season, will see the international media agency exclusively distribute the TV and mobile and digital media rights for 23 countries across the region.

Abu Dhabi Media (ADM) currently holds the rights and had been expected to fight hard to retain them.

MP & Silva also faced competition from Qatar-based Al Jazeera for the lucrative rights but the agency’s CEO, Andrea Radrizzani, said the big two broadcasters did not bid as aggressively as he had feared.

“Our price was quite near what ADM paid in the past,” Radrizzani told Reuters. “Even though the price was quite high, we thought it was killer content for the region.” He added in a statement: “With this new addition, MP & Silva is now partnering with the Premier League in 40 countries across Asia, Pacific and MENA.”

French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus had also faced strong competition for its contract from Al Jazeera’s beIN Sport platform. However, it has also secured the rights for all 380 games per season until 2015-16.

Director general of Canal Plus Group, Rodolphe Belmer, said: “We are extremely proud and satisfied, in a very competitive environment, to have renewed our long-term partnership with the Premier League. It is the world’s most admired football competition and much appreciated by our subscribers.”

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