FIFA has agreed to direct TV rights deals with broadcasters in Britain, France, Italy, Germany and Spain as part of a Europe-wide package for the 2010 World Cup worth around one billion euros ($1.21 billion). For the rest of Europe, world soccer's governing body said it would work in partnership with the European Broadcasting Union to sell the rights to broadcasters in individual countries.
FIFA said the deal would help ensure that Europe's public would be able to view the vast majority of matches at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa live on public broadcast TV.
In Britain, the deal is with ITV and the BBC; in Germany, with ARD/ZDF and Premiere; In France, with TF1; in Spain with TVE and in Italy with RAI and Sky. Pay-TV channels will show some matches as well.
Although FIFA has agreed to a deal with Japanese TV as part of the Asian market, it has yet to conclude deals for North or South America and the rest of Asia and Africa, which will raise more revenue from TV rights for the tournament.
FIFA said the deal would help ensure that Europe's public would be able to view the vast majority of matches at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa live on public broadcast TV.
In Britain, the deal is with ITV and the BBC; in Germany, with ARD/ZDF and Premiere; In France, with TF1; in Spain with TVE and in Italy with RAI and Sky. Pay-TV channels will show some matches as well.
Although FIFA has agreed to a deal with Japanese TV as part of the Asian market, it has yet to conclude deals for North or South America and the rest of Asia and Africa, which will raise more revenue from TV rights for the tournament.