Real Madrid Looking for Asian Influence after Change in Match Timings

Real Madrid will start their match against Osasuna next Sunday at midday, their earliest ever kick off, as they look to accumulate supporters in a Premier League dominated Asian market.

The early start, 11am UK time, has been specifically aimed at the Asian market, with the match set for prime time coverage in markets such as China, Hong Kong and Singapore. The Premier League for years have enjoyed success of its lunchtime Sunday kick-offs, with the league’s international broadcast rights worth about four times La Liga’s overseas television income.

Florentino Perez, the Real Madrid president, told The Sun: “Kick-off times in today’s globalised markets are very important. You have to think of all Continents. The English do that. In Asia the Premier League has more appeal because they can watch it live there thanks to the early kick-off times. We have to put the games at the times that will give us the biggest amount of money. If we have to play at 1pm, like they do in England, then we will.”

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho added,: “From my experience in England, it was positive to play at noon. You finish at 2pm, go home and have a day with the family.”

Also, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has employed UFA Sports to exclusively market the Spanish national soccer team’s media rights in  China, India, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, South Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines