Brazil, Turkey, and Belarus sign 2006 World Cup rights agreements

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Infront Sports & Media has announced further deals for the 2006 FIFA World Cup broadcast rights. In Brazil, there are two further agreements with dedicated sports channels, which complement the existing contract with TV Globo. These are with the pay-TV channels, Bandsports and ESPN Brasil, both are dedicated sports channels and are carried via cable and satellite in Brazil. They have both acquired the non-exclusive right to broadcast all 64 matches, live and delayed. In addition to these new agreements, TV Globo will provide extensive coverage in Brazil on free to air. Furthermore, TV Globo has confirmed that it will sub-license the rights to its pay television arm, Globosat. This means that the final configuration of coverage in Brazil, a vitally important football market, will consist of at least one terrestrial network and three pay operators.

In Turkey, Infront has reached an agreement with Merkez Atv Televizyon Prodüksiyon A.S. (Atv) for the exclusive television rights and non-exclusive radio rights to all 64 matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Atv is one of the leading commercial stations in Turkey and is owned by the Ciner Group and is a new partner for the FIFA World Cup. 2002 was the first time since 1954 that Turkey qualified for the FIFA World Cup. It was a tremendous first appearance, as the team exceeded all expectations by reaching an impressive 3rd place in the competition - an achievement which has been reflected in heightened interest in football and competition for the rights across Turkey.

The Belarus National State TV& Radio Company /BYBTRC has signed with Infront for a substantial package of FIFA World Cup rights and productions. The package includes all 64 matches of next year's FIFA World Cup, 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). The agreement also includes the 2005 and 2006 FIFA World Player Galas. BYBTRC is the state broadcaster in Belarus and was the official broadcaster of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan in Belarus. The rights it has purchased are the exclusive Free-TV and Radio rights.