LeSports operates a comprehensive sports content platform, holding media rights to more than 300 major sporting events worldwide (covering roughly 10,000 matches) with over 70% exclusivity. The company combines event operations, streaming and new-media distribution, smart devices (notably the Super Bike launched in 2015) and services such as O2O training, gaming, e-commerce and ticketing. It has secured high-profile partnerships and rights, including exclusive Chinese Super League rights (as of February 2016), a three-year strategic MLB partnership for Greater China, and English Premier League rights in Hong Kong through 2019. LeSports has expanded via investments and acquisitions (e.g., Zhangyu TV and SodaSoccer) and holds a LeSports Innovation Fund with $772 million AUM. The company says it will enhance the LeSports content platform, expand its user base, acquire more industry resources, and develop additional premium smart devices and products. Financially, LeSports has completed a large Series B financing that significantly increased the unit’s valuation and total invested capital. LeSports operates sports content, broadcast production and event operations, claiming rights across 17 sports categories and 121 competitions and delivering roughly 4,000 event broadcasts annually. The company touts multi-signal feeds and multiple commentary channels and can produce football, basketball, tennis, golf, marathon and other events. Its business lines include event operation (including the International Champions Cup and packaged professional leagues), smart hardware (the LeSports “super bicycle” and planned action cameras) and O2O/paid value‑added services such as a sports mall, training, games and lottery. LeSports also runs grassroots campus and community competitions and stages sports-video awards and creative events. Headquartered in Beijing and established one year earlier, the company completed its first external financing at scale in this transaction. The financing diluted prior holdings: after earlier equity adjustments LeTV’s stake had fallen below 15% while Leshi Holding held 55% control, and both were partially diluted by this round.

Total raised

$1.4B

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Mar 2016