ESS Scores FIFA World Cup for India

SINGAPORE, July 2: ESPN
STAR Sports (ESS) has signed a new contract with FIFA for the exclusive
television rights to broadcast a lineup of international football events,
including the 2010 FIFA World Cup, in the Indian subcontinent.

Under the agreement, ESS
will have the exclusive rights to more than 275 international football games,
including the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Confederations Cup. ESS will
also offer other premiere FIFA World Cup events for men, women, youth, Futsal and
Beach Soccer to viewers in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the
Maldives, Bhutan and Nepal. The coverage will include live matches with
English- and Hindi-language commentary for all 64 games, daily pre-shows on
match days, a daily review show and special lead-up programming.

The new contract builds on
a previous partnership that saw ESS broadcast the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which
was watched by more than 50 million people in India alone through the Asian
sports broadcaster.

Manu Sawhney, the managing
director of ESS, said, “We are extremely delighted to continue our partnership
with FIFA, with whom we share a very special relationship. This agreement is a
testament to our commitment of building the game of football by presenting it
in the most innovative and entertaining manner to millions of fans in the
Indian subcontinent.”

FIFA’s
president, Joseph
S. Blatter, added, “I am proud
that today ESPN STAR Sports, an important key player in the sports industry, is
joining the FIFA family to further enhance football across its platforms in the
Sub-Indian region. The fact that ESPN STAR Sports is entering in its record
deal in Indian market underlines its commitment to football. It ensures that
images of our events, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup, will be seen by the
widest possible audience across Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka—steadily growing football markets. It is a major
milestone in our history and the football in the entire region will undoubtedly benefit
from this deal sealed today.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski