Sbs Secures Exclusive Rights To The 2006 Fifa Worl

SBS Media Release: SBS announced today that it had secured full exclusive rights to broadcast the 2006 FIFA World Cup™.

SBS Media Release: SBS announced today that it had secured full exclusive rights to broadcast the 2006 FIFA World Cup™.   The Head of Television, Shaun Brown said: “This is a tremendous outcome for SBS television, for our viewers and for the sport of soccer in Australia. Our coverage, under the leadership of Mr Soccer, Les Murray will be complete and live with all 64 matches broadcast in full. There will also be extensive replays, highlights and support programs during the month-long event.”   The finals will be held in Germany in June and July 2006.   Mr Brown said the negotiations had taken a year to complete. He paid tribute to FIFA and its television marketing partner, Infront Sports & Media for the professional and understanding approach they had adopted throughout the discussions.   Oscar Frei, Chief Executive Officer of Infront, commented that there was strong competition amongst Australian broadcasters for the rights. “The historical commitment of SBS to football in Australia and the scale of its planned coverage played a significant role in our decision.”   Les Murray, SBS Head of Sport said: “The Korea-Japan experience of 2002, and the way Australians warmed to it, both in great numbers and with great affection, demonstrates that the FIFA World Cup™ is now a very big part of the Australian sporting psyche.”   “Viewers can rest assured that the event will receive the now traditional SBS level of dedication.”   The Managing Director of SBS, Nigel Milan said: "Football is truly the world game, transcending national and cultural barriers. Securing the rights to the FIFA World Cup is a perfect fit both with our Charter and our multicultural ambitions."   In 2002 SBS was able to provide coverage of only 48 of the 64 matches yet attracted 10-million viewers to its coverage.   In addition to the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, SBS has also secured rights to a number of other FIFA events including the FIFA World Youth Championship, the FIFA U-17 World Championship and the FIFA Confederations Cup, all to be staged in 2005.