Mumbai: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has acquired exclusive media rights for the 2022 Asian Games from November 2021 to September 2023. The media network will broadcast the 19th edition of the Asian Games on its sports channels across India and the subcontinent including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Maldives. The games will also be available to watch on its OTT platform, SonyLIV.

The 2022 Asian Games will take place from 10 September to 25 September, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China and five co-host cities. The multi-sporting event will feature 40 sports with a total of 61 disciplines including Olympic sports like swimming, archery, athletics, badminton, equestrian, fencing, football, hockey, judo, kabaddi, and much more.

E-sports and breakdancing will debut in the 2022 Asian Games as full medal sports after being approved by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) this year, while cricket will be back at Asian Games in T20 format.

For the first time ever, more than 300 athletes from Oceania countries have been given the chance to compete at this year’s edition of the Asian Games. The Oceania athletes, including those from Australia and New Zealand, will be allowed to compete in five sports: triathlon, athletics, wushu, roller skating, and weightlifting.

“The 2022 Asian Games is expected to be one of the biggest multi-sporting events in Asia this year and we are pleased to bag the exclusive media rights for India and the subcontinent,” said SPNI chief revenue officer distribution and head sports business Rajesh Kaul.

“The 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Organising Committee (HAGOC) would like to congratulate the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) on the signing of an agreement with Sony Pictures Networks India for broadcasting rights to the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, in India,” said Hangzhou city vice mayor and HAPGOC deputy secretary-general Chen Weiqiang. “This is the first signing of a rights-holding broadcaster for Hangzhou 2022 and marks the beginning of a new phase in the distribution of such rights for the event.”