Broadcasters sign up fast for FIFA football calendar

Adjust font size:

With a year to go to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Infront Sports & Media has reached a series of agreements with European broadcasters, as Europe's television markets hurry to sign up for an action-packed calendar of FIFA football.

The first deal signed with Public TV Company of Armenia. The deal includes FIFA events including next year's FIFA World Cup in Germany. The rights are exclusive for the territory of Armenia. PTVC has acquired the exclusive free-to-air broadcast rights for all 64 matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. All 64 matches will be shown on two terrestrial stations, First Channel and Nor Alik. It has also acquired exclusive broadcast rights for all matches of the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, which kicked off on 15th June in Germany. PCTV will also be broadcasting the annual FIFA World Player Gala in both 2005 and 2006. It has also purchased the exclusive rights to the Official Preview Series of the 2006 FIFA World Cup for Armenia, which is being produced by Infront Sports & Media in association with FIFA (16 x 26-minute programmes).

Another major deal was signed with Sport TV S.A, a commercial television organization, which controls a digital platform in Portugal. Sport TV purchased an important package of FIFA broadcast rights, including all 64 matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany, as well as the exclusive rights to the Official Preview Series of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In addition, Sport TV has acquired the right to broadcast the FIFA Official Film collection, which consists of all the official films of the FIFA World Cup from 1954-2002. Sport TV has also bought rights to the FIFA World Youth Championship 2005 (Under -20) currently taking place in the Netherlands until 2 July. This is the 13th edition of this event, one of the most important international events in the FIFA calendar, with 24 participating teams and 52 matches. The event is a great talent showcase - over the years, hundreds of former players have gone on to participate in the FIFA World Cup. All rights acquired by Sport TV are for the territory of Portugal.

Another company renewing its partnership with Infront is Slovakian broadcaster Slovenska Televizia (STV), who acquired rights to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany, the FIFA Confederations Cup 2005 and the Official Preview Series and FIFA Official Film Collection, across the territory of Slovakia.

Another recent signatory is TV & Radio Broadcasting of Georgia, which has purchased exclusive broadcast rights to all matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Confederations Cup 2005, the Official FIFA Preview Series and the 2005 and 2006 FIFA World Player Galas. This relationship is also a continuance from 2002 and covers all television and radio rights in Georgia in the Georgian language. The company is a state broadcaster and the deal will ensure maximum exposure for FIFA's events.

With still a year to go to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Infront's sales team is well on the way to completing its job by finalizing distribution for the event taking place in Germany.

Of the six regions, three - South America, Central/North America and Africa are 100% sold. Sales in Europe are now more than 75% complete and Asia is 67% complete. In Oceania there are contracts in 75% of territories. Overall, world sales have reached 85% of the potential total. This is good news for FIFA sponsors, who already know the broadcast partners in the key advertising markets. This means plenty of time for planning and activating their World Cup sponsorship activities and working closely with broadcasters on airtime sponsorship and advertising opportunities.