Under the agreement, MP & Silva acquired the exclusive ‘LIVE’ and delayed media rights to 56 Olympic Qualification matches – consisting 28 matches for each gender category – which include terrestrial free-to-air television, satellite and cable television, Internet protocol television (IPTV), mobile television, broadband television, mobile, and internet and broadband television.
It acquired the rights for Europe (excluding Poland, Serbia, and Italy), Oceania, and selected territories in North and South America, and Asia.
The tournament – which will be held in Tokyo, Japan from 17 – 25 May 2008 and 31 May – 8 June 2008 for the women’s and men’s categories respectively – will see eight teams in each gender category competing in a single round-robin play-off to determine the final qualifying places for volleyball: Japan’s women’s team will face Thailand, South Korea, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Kazakhstan, Poland, and Serbia for four final spots, while the men’s competition will feature Japan, Australia, Thailand, Algeria, South Korea, Iran, Italy, and Argentina, battling for two final places.
