FIFA World Cup 2018

Alibaba’s Youku To Livestream World Cup Games In China

June 11, 2018

Alibaba’s Youku has unveiled a series of promotions to boost fan engagement in China during the football World Cup.

The online video platform, in partnership with China Central Television (CCTV), will stream all 64 games of the tournament in Russia which gets underway this week.

Youku has planned a talk show, produced in partnership with CCTV, featuring celebrity guests and fans. It will also launch a soccer-education program for kids. Youku has also set aside coupons worth over RMB200 million (£23.3m/$31.2m) as prizes for an online football player card contest.

Weidong Yang, President of Alibaba Digital Media & Entertainment Group and Youku, said: “Not only are we streaming soccer matches, but we’re also leveraging this leading sports event to showcase the power of the Alibaba ecosystem and show how Youku can lead the industry and capture opportunities in the China sports market by building relevant content and excitement.

“The widespread support from the Alibaba ecosystem empowers Youku to deliver a superb experience for users to enjoy the popular monthlong tournament in many new and innovative ways.”

FIFA World Cup 2018