FIFA agent Infront has set up deals to ensure there is almost no country in the world without access to soccer’s showcase event, with 200 countries and a projected cumulative viewing audience of 32.5bn – a 10 percent increase compared to 2002 – tuning in.
For 2006, there will be more than 500 broadcast partners including 240 television licensees, a record number of 220 radio stations and more than 50 new media licensees for mobile telephony and web rights. By comparison, the 2002 event was transmitted by 300 broadcast partners.
Dominik Schmid, Infront’s executive director, broadcast operation, said: “As kick-off approaches, it is clear that the worldwide distribution has been successful and very much on target, in terms of its financial predictions and its ambitions for wider coverage and more viewer choice.”
