Hungary and Bosnia sign up for 2006 FIFA World Cup

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Infront Sports & Media has announced two further European television deals for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Magyar RTL Televizio Rt of Hungary has purchased a rights package that includes all 64 matches of next year's FIFA World Cup in Germany, as well as the exclusive rights to the Official Preview Series of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which is being produced by Infront Sports & Media in association with FIFA (16 x 26-minute programmes). Magyar RTL Televizio Rt is the leading commercial television network in Hungary. This deal represents a change of partner from 2002, when the licensee was Hungary's state broadcaster, illustrating the new broadcasting climate in Hungary. The deal is exclusive for the territory of Hungary in the Hungarian language.

The Public Broadcasting Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina has bought a comprehensive package of FIFA events and television programming, leading up to and including the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The events in the schedule include the FIFA Confederations Cup 2005, which ended on 29th June in Frankfurt with a Brazilian victory. The network has also purchased the rights to the next FIFA World Player Gala, which will take place either before or after Christmas. The highlight of the calendar will be the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, which starts in June next year. Also included in the package are the exclusive rights to the Official Preview Series of the 2006 FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Official Film collection, which consists of all the official films of the FIFA World Cup from 1954-2002. The Public Broadcasting Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the state broadcaster for the territory of Bosnia & Herzegovina and is an existing partner, as the rights holder for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan.

Oliver Seibert, an Executive Director of Infront, said: "These two deals are among a series of agreements that indicate we are heading for record coverage and audiences in Eastern Europe. We are very pleased that these networks will be showing so many FIFA matches and productions over the next year, which will help to create a sense of anticipation ahead of the FIFA World Cup."