http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/soccer

Two U.S. based companies - comprising 4 specific
networks - combined in new deals just announced for
telecasts of the mens and womens FIFA World Cups and
other tournaments through 2014...total value of the
separate deals - $425 million, a record for FIFA for
any single country.

ABC, ESPN, and ESPN 2 (owned by Disney) signed on for
the exclusive English-language rights, and Univision
did the same for exclusive Spanish-language rights in
the U.S.

The deals cover and extend the existing contracts with
same networks (which included the 2006 World Cup) to
the 2007 and 2011 Womens World Cups and the 2010 and
2014 Mens World Cups, as well as other FIFA-sanctioned
tournaments. The deals all require substantial
promotions and other ancilliary programming directly
and indirectly related to the World Cup finals in each
summer.

ABC itself will increase the number of live matches
beginning next year on its broadcast affiliates, and
will show more mens World Cup matches live on ABC in
each successive World Cup, regardless of the
performance of the USA home team.

ABC and ESPN began their deals with FIFA at the 1994
USA World Cup, and by 2002, all matches were shown
(though not all were live) between the four networks.

Due to the more 'friendly' time zone difference next
year, all are expected to be shown live here in the
USA in both English and Spanish languages.

"ABC, ESPN and Univision came to us with a
comprehensive package that will not only guarantee
coverage of the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and 2014 and
all other FIFA tournaments in the men's and women's
games but also promotion of football and the FIFA
brand even at those times when no tournaments are
taking place," FIFA said Wednesday.






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