Spain's Via Digital awarded broadcast rights for the 2002 FIFA World Cup
The first 2002 FIFA World Cup broadcast agreement in Europe confirms FIFA's new distribution strategy and launches the distribution campaign across Europe for the most popular sports event in the world.
Zug, Switzerland, 5 May 1999 - Prisma Sports & Media AG announced today that the broadcast rights in Spain for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan have been awarded to Via Digital. Via Digital is the country's emerging digital television platform, controlled by Telef¾nica, the state-run telecommunications company. Telef¾nica also maintains a significant interest in Antenna 3, one of Spain's main terrestrial broadcasters.
The agreement with Via Digital will provide the most comprehensive coverage of the FIFA World Cup ever in Spain and fully respects the distribution principles mandated by FIFA. Via Digital will work closely with terrestrial broadcasters in Spain to make certain that key matches of the FIFA World Cup are broadcast live on free-to-air television.
The FIFA World Cup is the most respected sports property in the world and Via Digital is excited to have the opportunity to showcase the event in Spain. By working in tandem with other broadcast partners in Spain, Via Digital's coverage will be complemented to provide Spanish supporters with the broadest possible FIFA World Cup coverage, said Juan Ruiz De Gauna, CEO of Via Digital.
FIFA has ushered in a new era in providing audiences with more viewing choices than ever before, while protecting the position of the World Cup as the world's most widely viewed event, said FIFA President, Joseph S. Blatter. We are pleased to welcome Via Digital as a broadcast partner to help carry out FIFA's important objectives.
Peter Sprogis, Managing Director of Prisma Sports & Media added, The agreement is the largest ever for the FIFA World Cup in a European country and confirms the distribution strategy adopted by FIFA's television partners who are marketing the broadcast rights on a country-by-country basis for the first time ever.
In addition to acquiring the broadcast rights to the 2002 FIFA World Cup which takes place in South Korea and Japan, Via Digital will also broadcast the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup that takes place this summer in Mexico from 24 July to 4 August, thus widening the worldwide exposure for this important FIFA event.
Prisma Sports & Media acts on behalf of TaurusFilm to distribute the FIFA World Cup broadcast rights exclusively in Europe. FIFA awarded the 2002 and 2006 broadcast rights to TaurusFilm and Sporis Holding in 1996. ISL Marketing acts on behalf of Sporis Holding to distribute the broadcast rights in territories outside of Europe.
Contacts:
Keith Cooper, FIFA, +41-1-384-9595
Peter Sprogis, Prisma Sports & Media, +44-171-291-8800, petersprogis@prismasports.com
Juan Baixeras, Via Digital, +34-91-512-92-32
Zug, Switzerland, 5 May 1999 - Prisma Sports & Media AG announced today that the broadcast rights in Spain for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan have been awarded to Via Digital. Via Digital is the country's emerging digital television platform, controlled by Telef¾nica, the state-run telecommunications company. Telef¾nica also maintains a significant interest in Antenna 3, one of Spain's main terrestrial broadcasters.
The agreement with Via Digital will provide the most comprehensive coverage of the FIFA World Cup ever in Spain and fully respects the distribution principles mandated by FIFA. Via Digital will work closely with terrestrial broadcasters in Spain to make certain that key matches of the FIFA World Cup are broadcast live on free-to-air television.
The FIFA World Cup is the most respected sports property in the world and Via Digital is excited to have the opportunity to showcase the event in Spain. By working in tandem with other broadcast partners in Spain, Via Digital's coverage will be complemented to provide Spanish supporters with the broadest possible FIFA World Cup coverage, said Juan Ruiz De Gauna, CEO of Via Digital.
FIFA has ushered in a new era in providing audiences with more viewing choices than ever before, while protecting the position of the World Cup as the world's most widely viewed event, said FIFA President, Joseph S. Blatter. We are pleased to welcome Via Digital as a broadcast partner to help carry out FIFA's important objectives.
Peter Sprogis, Managing Director of Prisma Sports & Media added, The agreement is the largest ever for the FIFA World Cup in a European country and confirms the distribution strategy adopted by FIFA's television partners who are marketing the broadcast rights on a country-by-country basis for the first time ever.
In addition to acquiring the broadcast rights to the 2002 FIFA World Cup which takes place in South Korea and Japan, Via Digital will also broadcast the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup that takes place this summer in Mexico from 24 July to 4 August, thus widening the worldwide exposure for this important FIFA event.
Prisma Sports & Media acts on behalf of TaurusFilm to distribute the FIFA World Cup broadcast rights exclusively in Europe. FIFA awarded the 2002 and 2006 broadcast rights to TaurusFilm and Sporis Holding in 1996. ISL Marketing acts on behalf of Sporis Holding to distribute the broadcast rights in territories outside of Europe.
Contacts:
Keith Cooper, FIFA, +41-1-384-9595
Peter Sprogis, Prisma Sports & Media, +44-171-291-8800, petersprogis@prismasports.com
Juan Baixeras, Via Digital, +34-91-512-92-32