Chinese football broadcaster looks for new deal as playing field shifts

Zhao Jun, chief executive of China Sports Media (CSM), attends a summit in Beijing, China December 4, 2016. Picture taken December 4, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer

BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China Sports Media paid a record 8 billion yuan ($1.18 billion) in 2015 for a five-year contract to broadcast China's top-flight football league.

The move by CSM came as the Chinese government was trying to kick-start the sport in China, where the domestic league and national team have long struggled.