RugbyPass, an over-the-top service from Coliseum Sports Media, is further expanding into Asia by partnering with Alisports and NeuLion.
Alisports, established by e-commerce giant Alibaba along with Sina and its media resources, serve as the local digital partner for RugbyPass in China as the service is set to launch two new channels in the large market.
One of the planned channels is set to feature all live and on-demand content in Chinese and is free for all users in China to run on a dedicated rugby channel on streaming platform Youku. The other channel will initially broadcast in English and is expected to launch in early 2017 as a premium subscription service featuring content available on the existing RugbyPass platform, including every International game held that season along with the British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand.