Sina to broadcast Manchester Utd's TV channel in China

Sina Sports, the online sports content division of Internet giant Sina Corp, has reached a long-term deal with Manchester United to provide the English Premier League giant's video content to Chinese soccer fans.

The partnership will see the club's 24-hour digital channel, MUTV, go live on Sina Sports from Jan 17, becoming the first exclusive Premier League club channel to be broadcast on the Chinese mainland.

Both sides claimed the partnership would help create a new experience for soccer fans in watching and understanding the sport, and boost the English side's commercial activities in the fast-developing Chinese sports market.