MP & Silva

History

MP & Silva began in 2004 with the acquisition of the global rights distribution of selected Italian Serie A football teams. In 2006, the company acquired the rights for the majority of Serie A teams. The first headquarters office opened in Singapore in 2007. By 2009, the company's portfolio principally consisted of media rights of European football leagues being distributed to Asian TV broadcasters. In 2010, MP & Silva headquarters moved to London where they started working with Arsenal. The company acquired the pan-European rights for the French Open in 2011.

In 2013, MP & Silva secured the Premier League's broadcast rights in 51 territories, including the Middle East. The agency also bought Formula One rights in MENA and some selected European countries.

They aired CPBL games throughout 2014 before stopping in July 2014.

At the beginning of 2015, the company announced its expansion in the United States market and its acquisition of European rights to the National Football League.

In May 2016, Chinese companies Everbright Securities and Beijing Baofeng Technology bought a majority 65% stake of MP & Silva. The purchase was made through a strategic partnership, the Shanghai Jin Xin investment fund.

The company began to face significant struggles under the Chinese majority ownership. In July 2018, it was reported that the company had missed rights payments to entities such as the Premier League (where it held rights in the Asia-Pacific region) and Scottish Professional Football League. Both entities cut their ties with MP & Silva. On 27 July 2018, the Serie A sued MP & Silva over nearly €38 million in unpaid fees. Arsenal F.C. and the International Handball Federation also terminated its contracts with MP & Silva. The French Tennis Federation petitioned in the High Court of Justice for the winding up on MP & Silva under the Insolvency Act 1986.

On 17 October 2018, the High Court ordered the winding-up of MP & Silva.

References

References

1. "The big interview – MP & Silva.". Sports Industry Groups.
2. "Italian volleyball 'breaks a stunning record' with MP & Silva.". SportsPro.
3. "Media Company MP & Silva Puts Sports on YouTube With Rightster". Bloomberg.
4. "European Sports Hit by Collapse of Agency Once Worth $1 Billion".
5. Panja, Tariq. (28 November 2011). "MP & Silva Renews Serie A Overseas Media Rights for 3 Seasons – Bloomberg Business". Bloomberg L.P..
6. (12 June 2011). "MP & Silva win European broadcast distribution rights for French Open from EBU". Insidethegames.biz.
7. (19 December 2013). "Motor racing-Formula One secures TV rights deal for Middle East".
8. (19 February 2013). "MP & Silva assumes dominant position in agency market with new Premier League deal". Goal.com.
9. (31 January 2013). "Premier League sells Middle East and Africa TV rights". BBC News.
10. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180619163711/https://chinapost.nownews.com/20140720-60168 MP & Silva ends CPBL distribution contract]
11. (23 February 2015). "02/23/15: MP & Silva set sights on US marketCynopsis Media". Cynopsis.com.
12. "MP & Silva to distribute NFL rights in Europe next five seasons | Sport". The Guardian.
13. "Baofeng and Everbright establish partnership with MP & Silva to drive growth – MP & Silva".
14. (2018-07-27). "Exclusive: Serie A takes MP & Silva to court for €38m in unpaid rights fees". SportBusiness Group.
15. (2018-08-13). "SPFL tears up broadcast agreement, claiming a default in payments". BBC Sport.
16. (2018-08-31). "SPFL agree international rights deal with Infront after termination of MP and Silva deal". BBC Sport.
17. "Is China-owned MP & Silva about to become the biggest fail in sports marketing history?". South China Morning Post.
18. "MP & Silva in ‘state of paralysis’ after missing rights payments". SportsPro.
19. "MP & Silva dealt further blow as IHF terminates contract". SportsPro.
20. "MP & Silva heads to High Court as FFT issues winding-up petition". SportsPro.
21. "MP & Silva wound up in UK High Court".