MP & Silva
MP & Silva was an international sports-marketing and media-rights agency that acquired and resold broadcast rights for major sporting competitions.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
MP & Silva Limited was a London-based international sports-marketing and media-rights firm founded in 2004 by Italian businessmen Riccardo Silva and Andrea Radrizzani. Its core business was the acquisition, packaging, licensing, and international resale of television and other media rights for sporting events. Rather than operating primarily as a consumer-facing sports broadcaster, the company acted as an intermediary between rights holders and broadcasters, particularly in territories where leagues and competitions sought commercial distribution partners. The company began by acquiring worldwide distribution rights for selected Italian Serie A football clubs. Its early growth was tied to the increasing value of international football broadcasting, especially in Asian markets. In 2006, MP & Silva expanded its Serie A portfolio to cover most teams in the competition. It opened its first headquarters office in Singapore in 2007, reflecting the importance of Asian television markets to its distribution strategy. By 2009, European football leagues supplied most of the company’s portfolio, with rights being sold to broadcasters across Asia. In 2010, the headquarters moved to London, placing the business closer to European sports properties, rights holders, agencies, and financial markets. The company broadened beyond football during the following years. It acquired pan-European media rights for the French Open in 2011, secured Premier League broadcast rights in 51 territories in 2013, and acquired Formula One rights for the Middle East and North Africa and selected European countries. MP & Silva also distributed Chinese Professional Baseball League games during 2014, although that arrangement ended in July of the same year. In early 2015, it announced expansion into the United States and acquired European rights to the National Football League. At its height, MP & Silva was regarded as a substantial international sports-rights intermediary. In May 2016, Everbright Securities and Beijing Baofeng Technology acquired a 65 percent majority stake through the Shanghai Jin Xin investment fund. The transaction changed the company’s ownership structure while leaving it exposed to the capital requirements and payment schedules associated with large sports-rights contracts. The business subsequently encountered serious financial and contractual difficulties. In 2018, reports indicated that it had missed payments connected with rights agreements, including arrangements involving the Premier League in the Asia-Pacific region and the Scottish Professional Football League. Those rights holders ended their relationships with MP & Silva. Serie A also brought a claim over nearly €38 million in alleged unpaid fees, while Arsenal Football Club and the International Handball Federation terminated contracts. The French Tennis Federation petitioned the High Court of Justice for the company’s winding-up under the Insolvency Act 1986. On 17 October 2018, the High Court ordered MP & Silva’s winding-up. The company is therefore defunct. Its history illustrates both the rapid expansion of international sports-media rights and the financial risks of taking on expensive, time-sensitive rights packages whose commercial value depends on securing broadcasters and making scheduled payments across multiple territories.
History
MP & Silva was established in 2004 by Riccardo Silva and Andrea Radrizzani as a specialist sports-media rights business. Its initial activity centered on the international distribution of selected Italian Serie A football rights. The company’s model was to secure rights from sports leagues, clubs, or event organizers and then license those rights to broadcasters in territories where demand for premium sports programming was growing. In 2006, MP & Silva expanded its Serie A portfolio to include the rights of most teams in the competition. The company opened its first headquarters office in Singapore in 2007, an important step in a strategy focused on Asian television markets. By 2009, European football properties made up the principal part of its portfolio, and the company was distributing them to broadcasters across Asia. The business moved its headquarters to London in 2010. From there, it pursued a broader international portfolio and developed relationships with major sports organizations and commercial broadcasters. It acquired pan-European rights for the French Open in 2011. In 2013, it secured Premier League broadcast rights in 51 territories, including the Middle East, and also acquired Formula One rights in the Middle East and North Africa and selected European countries. MP & Silva distributed Chinese Professional Baseball League games during 2014, but ceased that activity in July of that year. The company continued to diversify in 2015, announcing an expansion into the United States and acquiring European rights to the National Football League. Its growth reflected the rising international value of live sports, but also required substantial capital and reliable downstream licensing arrangements. The firm’s role depended on reselling rights at sufficient prices and meeting contractual payments to rights holders on schedule. In May 2016, Everbright Securities and Beijing Baofeng Technology bought a 65 percent majority stake through the Shanghai Jin Xin investment fund. Following the change in ownership, MP & Silva experienced increasing difficulties. In July 2018, reports described missed payments involving rights holders such as the Premier League, for which MP & Silva held Asia-Pacific rights, and the Scottish Professional Football League. Both organizations cut ties with the company. Serie A subsequently sued over nearly €38 million in unpaid fees. Arsenal Football Club and the International Handball Federation also terminated contracts, while the French Tennis Federation petitioned the High Court of Justice for a winding-up order under the Insolvency Act 1986. The High Court ordered the company’s winding-up on 17 October 2018. MP & Silva’s corporate history ended with that insolvency process. The company remains notable as an example of the international sports-rights agency model: it built a broad portfolio across football, tennis, motorsport, baseball, and American football, but its highly leveraged and payment-dependent structure left it vulnerable when rights obligations could no longer be met.
- 2018
Winding-up ordered
[1]After missed rights payments, contract terminations, and legal claims, the High Court orders MP & Silva’s winding-up on 17 October.
- 2016
Majority stake changes hands
[1]Everbright Securities and Beijing Baofeng Technology acquire a 65 percent majority stake through the Shanghai Jin Xin investment fund.
- 2015
United States expansion and NFL rights
[1]The company announces expansion into the United States and acquires European rights to the National Football League.
- 2014
Chinese Professional Baseball League distribution
[1]MP & Silva airs Chinese Professional Baseball League games before ending the arrangement in July.
- 2013
Premier League and Formula One expansion
[1]The company secures Premier League broadcast rights in 51 territories and obtains Formula One rights in MENA and selected European countries.
- 2011
French Open rights acquired
[1]MP & Silva acquires pan-European media rights for the French Open.
- 2010
Headquarters move to London
[1]The company relocates its headquarters to London and begins working with Arsenal.
- 2007
Singapore headquarters office opens
[1]MP & Silva opens its first headquarters office in Singapore as it develops its Asian distribution business.
- 2006
Serie A portfolio expands
[1]The company acquires rights covering the majority of Italian Serie A teams.
- 2004
MP & Silva is founded
[1]Riccardo Silva and Andrea Radrizzani establish the sports-marketing and media-rights firm.
Products and positioning
A global intermediary specializing in acquiring, packaging, and reselling sports-broadcasting rights to television and media companies, with a particularly strong historical focus on European football and Asian distribution markets.
Football media rights · 2004
Serie A international media rights
MP & Silva began by distributing international rights for selected Italian Serie A clubs and expanded its portfolio in 2006 to cover most teams in the competition. These rights formed the foundation of the company’s early international football business, particularly in Asian broadcast markets.
Football media rights · 2013
Premier League rights
The company secured Premier League broadcast rights in 51 territories in 2013, including the Middle East. Its later Asia-Pacific rights relationships became part of the payment disputes that contributed to the collapse of the business.
Tennis media rights · 2011
French Open rights
MP & Silva acquired pan-European media rights for the French Open in 2011, adding a major tennis property to a portfolio previously dominated by football. The French Tennis Federation later petitioned for the company’s winding-up during the 2018 insolvency dispute.
Motorsport media rights · 2013
Formula One rights
The company acquired Formula One rights for the Middle East and North Africa and selected European countries as part of its expansion beyond football.
American football media rights · 2015
National Football League European rights
In 2015, MP & Silva acquired European rights to the National Football League while announcing an expansion into the United States market.
Controversies
2018
Missed rights payments and insolvency
MP & Silva faced allegations and reports concerning missed payments to several sports-rights holders. The Premier League and Scottish Professional Football League ended their relationships with the company, Serie A pursued nearly €38 million in alleged unpaid fees, and other partners terminated contracts. The High Court ordered the company’s winding-up in October 2018.
Brand decisions
2018
Winding-up and termination of rights relationshipsOtherBackground
The company missed payments connected with multiple sports-media rights contracts and faced legal action from rights holders.
Action taken
Rights holders terminated agreements, legal claims were brought, and the High Court ordered MP & Silva’s winding-up on 17 October 2018.
Aftermath
MP & Silva ceased operating as an active sports-rights agency and became defunct.
2016
Sale of majority stake to Chinese investorsM&ABackground
MP & Silva had grown into a large international sports-rights intermediary and sought new ownership and investment.
Action taken
Everbright Securities and Beijing Baofeng Technology acquired a 65 percent stake through the Shanghai Jin Xin investment fund.
Aftermath
The company operated under Chinese majority ownership before experiencing significant rights-payment and insolvency problems in 2018.
Reported company valuation. Approximately US$1 billion valuation at its peak (2016)
2013
Expansion into premium football and motorsport rightsStrategyBackground
The company was broadening its portfolio beyond club-level and league-level football distribution.
Action taken
MP & Silva secured Premier League rights in 51 territories and acquired Formula One rights in MENA and selected European countries.
Aftermath
The transactions increased the company’s international reach and exposure to large, time-sensitive rights commitments.
2010
Relocation of headquarters to LondonStrategyBackground
After building an Asian presence from Singapore, MP & Silva sought closer access to European sports properties and commercial partners.
Action taken
The company moved its headquarters to London and began working with Arsenal.
Aftermath
London became the firm’s principal base during its expansion into a broader international sports-rights portfolio.
Sources1 sources
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