SPORTEL Asia 2026: Key Takeaways & Growth in APAC Sports Media
Monaco, 25 March 2026 – SPORTEL concluded its latest edition in Singapore this week, solidifying its position as a crucial link between the Asia-Pacific sports media landscape and the global industry. The event, held from March 24th to 25th at the Orchard Hotel Singapore, drew 370 participants representing over 220 companies from 35 countries.
The two-day event fostered connections between industry leaders, broadcasters, rights holders, technology providers, and media companies through a combination of exhibition, conference sessions, and networking opportunities. Beyond the formal agenda, networking remained a central focus, highlighted by a Welcome Cocktail hosted by World Table Tennis and an exclusive tour of the National Stadium and Singapore Sports Museum, courtesy of The Kallang.
A significant portion of attendees – approximately 55% – hailed from the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East, while the remaining 45% traveled from Europe and the Americas. This distribution underscores SPORTEL’s role in bridging regional and international markets. The event likewise facilitated substantial commercial activity, with roughly one-third of participants representing content buyers and another third representing rights holders, creating a fertile ground for discussions regarding future partnerships, rights acquisitions, and distribution strategies.
The presence of key broadcasters and content buyers from across the region further emphasized the growing importance of the Asia-Pacific market. Companies represented included ADVANCED INFO SERVICES, ASTRO, BEIN SPORTS APAC, BG SPORTS, BILIBILI, CJ ENM, COUPANG PLAY, DAZN JAPAN, DIGICEL, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA, FPT PLAY, ESPN AUSTRALIA & Novel ZEALAND, IEG, J SPORTS, MEDIACORP, MONO, STARHUB, SINGTEL, STAN SPORT, TELKOM MALAYSIA, and WOWOW.
A Strategic Moment for the Asian Sports Media Market
Alongside the exhibition floor, the Conference Summit addressed key trends shaping the future of sports media in the Asia-Pacific region. Sessions explored the evolving landscape of sports media rights, strategies for commercial expansion for European leagues in APAC, the growing legacy and economic influence of women in Singapore’s sports industry, and content acquisition approaches in an increasingly digital-first market.
Discussions also centered on emerging sports technologies – including cloud production, generative AI, and automation – alongside panels on streaming personalization, piracy, cybercrime in sports broadcasting, and the evolving sports media ecosystems in Australia and New Zealand.
The event culminated in the Pitch Perfect Innovation Contest, which showcased five innovative companies – Phygital International, BitMovin, S.O. Casual Creative, Appear and Layer Cake – offering them a platform to present their solutions to the broader SPORTEL community. Padraig O’Donovan from Layercake was awarded a full-access Attendee pass for the next edition of SPORTEL Monaco (October 19–21), providing an opportunity to further engage with the global sports media industry.
Expanding the SPORTEL Community
SPORTEL’s international editions are instrumental in expanding its community by introducing the brand to new regional stakeholders. Hosting events in strategic markets like Singapore allows companies discovering the platform for the first time to connect with the global industry while building long-term relationships within the SPORTEL network. This Singapore edition serves as a stepping stone for companies across Asia-Pacific and beyond, leading up to SPORTEL Monaco (October 19–21), the annual flagship event for the global sports media industry.
“Singapore has once again proven to be a strategic gateway for connecting the Asia-Pacific sports media industry with the global SPORTEL community,” said Agnès Marsan, Executive Director of SPORTEL Asia. “Beyond the business conducted during the event, these regional editions are essential for welcoming new companies into the SPORTEL ecosystem and introducing them to the opportunities it offers – because SPORTEL is where deals are made, partnerships are built, and announcements come to life.”
SPORTEL Asia in numbers:
- 370 participants from 220 companies
- 20% of new companies
- 63% of C-level attendees
- 1/3 of content buyers
- 35 countries represented
- 55% of participants from APAC and the Middle East, & 45% from Europe and the Americas
- SAVE THE DATE: SPORTEL Monaco: 19-21 October 2026 – www.sportelmonaco.com