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FIFA faces WC broadcast crisis; Reliance offers $20 mn, China deal unclear | FIFA World Cup 2022

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Millions of soccer fans in the world’s two most populous nations may not be able to watch the World Cup that starts next month, due to a deadlock over broadcast rights in India and no official decision in ​China.


In India, a Reliance-Disney joint venture has offered $20 million for 2026 ??World Cup broadcast rights, a fraction of ​FIFA’s ask, which was not acceptable to soccer’s global governing body, two sources told Reuters on Monday. Sony held talks but also decided not ‌to make an offer for FIFA rights for India, a third source with direct knowledge said.


There has also been no deal announcement for China, which FIFA says accounted for 49.8% of all hours of viewing on digital and social platforms globally during the 2022 World Cup.

 

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FIFA has concluded agreements with broadcasters in over 175 territories globally, it said in a statement to Reuters.


“Discussions in China and India regarding the sale of media rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are ??ongoing and must remain confidential at this stage,” the statement said.


Reliance-Disney, a joint venture led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance, did not respond to requests for comment, and neither did Sony.


The lack of a confirmed broadcast agreement with India or China is unusual at this stage.

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In past World Cups, including 2018 and 2022, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV secured the rights well in advance and began airing promotional content and sponsor-driven advertisements weeks before the tournament.


CCTV, which has extensive reach across television and digital platforms, did not immediately return a request for comment.


China accounted for 17.7% and India 2.9% of the global linear TV reach of ‌the 2022 tournament. The two countries together accounted for 22.6% of total global digital streaming reach for that World Cup.


The 2026 tournament kicks off on June 11, leaving barely five weeks for a deal to be finalised, broadcast infrastructure to be set up and advertising inventory to be sold.

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For India, FIFA initially sought $100 million for broadcast rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups, the sources said, declining to be named because the talks are private.


When the World Cup last aired in India in 2022, Reliance’s then-standalone media arm secured the rights for about $60 million, which was announced around 14 months before the event in Qatar.


“FIFA is looking for a similar ??amount for this edition of the tournament,” a FIFA source told Reuters.


Reliance and Disney have since formed a joint venture to emerge ​as a dominant force in India’s media and streaming landscape, and the $20 million FIFA offer ??underscores the negotiating power the Indian group commands.

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FIFA had significantly lowered its ‌ask from the $100 million earlier, but has not been keen on the $20 million figure Reliance offered, one source said.


Reliance-Disney, which has spent billions on cricket broadcast rights, believes the World Cup will have lower viewership in India as the tournament is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and most ​matches will air past midnight ‌in India, the sources said.


China has around 200 million soccer fans, more than any other country, but has failed to build world-class teams, ??partly due to a top-down approach ‌where clubs pick players from a very small pool of pre-screened candidates.


The second source added that football does not command the commercial premium in India like its most popular sport cricket, and an advertising slowdown linked to the Iranian war has further eroded revenue expectations.

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“Football is a niche segment in India,” ‌said the source.


Sony, ​which has TV ​channels and a streaming app in India, also decided not to purchase broadcast rights from FIFA as it did ??not make economic sense for the group, said the third industry source.


“Not much time is left but I won’t call it a stalemate. It’s more like we ??are ‌at the end of a chess ​game with a couple of moves left,” said Rohit Potphode, managing partner for sports at advertising agency Dentsu India.

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5 Consequences Becky Lynch could face for punching Adam Pearce on WWE RAW

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Becky Lynch had a rough night on this week’s episode of WWE RAW. The Man interrupted Sol Ruca’s official contract signing. The young star previously appeared on the post-WrestleMania 42 edition of the flagship show, losing to Liv Morgan due to Zaria’s interference.

Ruca was set to make her move to the red brand’s show official this week. Adam Pearce was in the ring with her contract, but before she could sign it, Lynch came out. The Women’s Intercontinental Champion complained to Adam Pearce that she was allotted this time slot for her celebration of greatness.

Amid the argument between Lynch and Pearce, Sol Ruca spoke up. The young star had a verbal back-and-forth with The Man, in which she called Lynch a “rude, big-headed b*tch.” The Irish star did not appreciate the young star speaking to her in this manner.

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Lynch was about to strike Sol Ruca, but she moved out of the way, leading to Adam Pearce taking the hit. The RAW General Manager was irate with The Man, as she apologized. Getting physical with an authority figure is never a good idea, and Becky Lynch may have to face the consequences for her actions.

In this listicle, we will look at five consequences Becky Lynch could face for punching Adam Pearce on RAW.


#5. She may be forced to defend the Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Sol Ruca

Adam Pearce could turn Becky Lynch’s punishment into an opportunity to book a high-profile match for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. The segment on RAW ended with Sol Ruca taking Lynch out with a Sol Snatcher. The RAW General Manager could book The Man to defend the Women’s IC Title against the young star.

While it may not happen at Backlash since there is no time for build-up, Saturday Night’s Main Event is set to take place on May 23, where Lynch vs. Ruca for the title could happen. The former NXT Women’s North American Champion has all the potential in the world to lead WWE’s women’s division for years to come.

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Having her face a veteran like Lynch immediately after her main roster debut could elevate Ruca. As a punishment for The Man, Adam Pearce could even allow the ex-NXT star to pick the stipulation for the match.


#4. Becky Lynch could be suspended

The issues between Becky Lynch and Adam Pearce have persisted for a while now. Big Time Becks was practically running an online campaign, claiming that Pearce was incompetent to be the RAW General Manager. Pearce now has a reason to take strict action against Lynch, and he could make the most of it.

Adam Pearce could suspend The Man without pay for punching him on RAW. This would only further Lynch’s disdain towards the on-screen authority figure, opening multiple possibilities for a future storyline.


#3. She could be fined

It’s not unusual for managers and authority figures to become collateral damage in brawls. Adam Pearce himself has been caught in the middle of multiple unfavorable situations. The standard punishment for attacking an authority figure is a fine, which is what Becky Lynch may have to pay for punching Pearce.

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The RAW General Manager could heavily fine The Man for her actions on Monday. Even though Lynch is one of the top stars of the company and is likely wealthy, even she may not enjoy paying a hefty amount for an accidental punch on Adam Pearce.


#2. Becky Lynch could be stripped of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship

Now, this would perhaps be the harshest punishment Adam Pearce could give Becky Lynch for putting her hands on him on RAW. The Man is a record-setting three-time Women’s Intercontinental Champion. She has struggled a lot to regain the title from AJ Lee.

After suffering multiple losses at the hands of AJ, Becky finally defeated her bitter rival at WrestleMania 42 to win the Women’s IC Championship for a third time. Adam Pearce could strip the title away from The Man for her actions on RAW.

Lynch could go on a hiatus, which would then set the stage for a blockbuster return down the line and a potential babyface run for Big Time Becks.

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#1. Adam Pearce could announce an all-brand tournament to determine the number one contender for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship

Adam Pearce could make the Women’s Intercontinental Championship the most sought-after title in WWE. Much to Becky Lynch’s dismay, the RAW General Manager could announce a tournament to determine the number one contender to Lynch’s title.

To raise the stakes further, Pearce could open the field for stars from SmackDown and NXT as well. This may be done to find the most suitable challenger for Big Time Becks’ title, something she may not appreciate.

Lynch has arguably made Pearce’s job as the RAW General Manager harder, and he could now get his payback over the Women’s Intercontinental Champion by booking her to face the toughest challenger on the roster.