State TV gets exclusive all-media rights for next 2 FIFA WCs

FIFA has awarded China's state-run CCTV all media rights for the period between 2018 and 2022 in the Chinese mainland, the broadcaster announced here today.
According to the agreement, the China Central Television (CCTV) now owns the exclusive media rights to all FIFA events over the next five years, including the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 2019 Women's World Cup in France and the 2021 Confederations Cup, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The CCTV had begun to broadcast the FIFA World Cup in 1978.
"The partnership shows our support for FIFA as well as our efforts to help raise the level of Chinese soccer," its deputy editor-in-chief Peng Jianmin said.

Chinese mainland excludes Hong Kong and Macao, which are specially-administered provinces.