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ITV2 wins Beckham debut rights

UK digital channel ITV2 has secured the live TV rights to Real Madrid's Asian tour which will feature the debut of David Beckham for the Spanish soccer club.

ITV2 will screen all four of Real Madrid's matches in Asia live over the first two weeks of August.
Commented Zai Bennett, ITV2's head of scheduling and strategy: "It's a major coup for ITV2 to have won David Beckham's first kick for new team Real Madrid."
In addition to the live coverage, ITV2 will also air an hour-long highlights show on the same evening as each of the games with the matches replayed in full in the channel's late night schedule.
The ITV2 deal was negotiated through Heavenly Marketing - the UK representatives of Madrid's Asian commercial partners ASD.
ASD has also recruited agency IEC in Sports to distribute the rights to Madrid's Asian tour.