ESPN, the sports arm of entertainment company Disney, has struck a major distribution deal with Chinese Internet giant Tencent.

As parts of the deal, ESPN will offer popular sports content across Tencent's online platforms with Mandarin-language commentary.

On a whole, the joint venture deal will benefit both the companies. For ESPN, this deal will help to increase its foothold in China's burgeoning industry. Tencent, on other hand, will get access to lucrative sports content through ESPN's wide sports live coverage network.                 

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According to the deal, which was sealed on Wednesday, ESPN will mainly offer 'Basketball' and 'Football' contents through Tencent's online digital platform. Both sports enjoy huge fan following and are considered amongst the most popular sports across China.

The 2016 NBA playoffs that starts in April will be the first sports coverage that ESPN will dish out on Tencent's online platforms.  

The deal has also given Tencent the exclusive right to stream "March Madness," a popular U.S. college level basketball tournament.

Tencent, which is desperately seeking to increase its pie in China's $180 billion dollar entertainment industry, has also entered into similar distribution deal with other top entertainment companies in recent years. In 2014, it tied with Sony Music to distribute Sony's music library in China through its online platform.           

Similarly, Tencent also struck a distribution deal with National Geographic Channel and Korea's top entertainment company 'YG Entertainment'.            

Tencent, however, is not the only Chinese internet company that is obsessively going after China's lucrative entertainment industry.

Alibaba, Chinese ecommerce giant, acquired majority stake in two film production companies BABA and Tech30 in 2014.

Alibaba also rolled out the much anticipated TBO in September last year, which is Chinese equivalent of Netflix.            

TagsESPN, Tencent, china