Galleon Inks Chinese Co-Production Deal for Soccer Program

LONDON, March 3: Galleon
Holdings has signed an exclusive co-production agreement with China’s Guangdong
TV Sports Channel and the U.K.’s Chelsea Football Club for Super Soccer Star, a new multiplatform reality soccer talent program.

The 13×30-minute show is
currently going into production and is scheduled for broadcast on the Guangdong
TV Sports Channel in April. In Super Soccer Star, soccer schools and coaches across the Guangdong
province will send their most promising players to the show to participate in
the selection process. Contestants are eliminated during the course of the
13-episode series; one of the final episodes will be held in the Chelsea
Football Club, leading to the winner being granted a place to train at the
Chelsea Academy.

The multiplatform series
is expected to generate revenue from numerous channels and activities that
include sponsorship, advertising, mobile-phone participation, live events,
online activities and branded merchandise.

Galleon owns the Super
Soccer Star show and format.
Following the establishment of the first series, Galleon intends to roll out
the format and the brand to other provinces in China and other countries in
South East Asia.

“We believe that Super
Soccer Star could become a
national show in China and can springboard into other territories in Southeast
Asia,” said Stephen Green, the CEO of Galleon Holdings. “This is an
entertainment format which appeals to grass roots football in China. We’re
delighted to have the backing of a Super Brand like Chelsea, which will be
working with us on the project to support the technical side and the promotion
to grass roots soccer in the province. Chelsea is one of the most recognizable
football brands in the world and one of the best followed clubs in China.”

Guangdong TV Sports
Channel broadcasts across the Guangdong province to its 12 major cities and
also certain parts of neighbouring provinces Guangxi and Zhongxing reaching a
total of 50 million estimated viewers. Guangdong TV Sports Channel is one of
the official broadcasting partners to the FA Premier League (FAPL), airing FAPL
games in China.

—By Irene Lew