China telephony/internet World Cup deal signed

FIFA's marketing agents, Infront Sports & Media, has clinched the latest new media broadcast deal for this summer’s FIFA World Cup.The agency has signed an exclusive deal with SMG Broadband Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shanghai Media Group, giving the latter rights to the potentially hugely lucrative Chinese market.

According to Sports Business, the rights cover all 64 matches and are in the mobile telephony and world wide web categories. They include up to four minutes of video material per match for near-live or delayed highlights via mobile networks and the internet. SMG has also acquired archive material from the 2002 World Cup as part of the agreement.