CHANDIGARH:  ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) on Wednesday announced a new contract with FIFA, world's governing body for football, for the exclusive television rights to broadcast FIFA's stellar line-up of international football events including the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ for the Indian Sub-continent.

Under the terms of agreement, ESPN STAR Sports will have the exclusive rights to show over 275 international football games including the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and the FIFA Confederations Cup both to be held for the first time on African soil in South Africa. In addition, ESS will bring other premier FIFA World Cup events for men, women, youth, Futsal and Beach Soccer to fans in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan and Nepal.

ESS has proved itself to be the right partner for FIFA in the Indian sub-continent and has continued its partnership with the world's governing body of football after the successful broadcasts of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. With the production and transmission of over 100 hours of original content, the 2006 FIFA World Cup was watched by over 50 million people in India alone through ESPN STAR Sports' broadcast, which was a 44% increase on the 2002 FIFA World Cup™. 

The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ is expected to once again captivate soccer fans as 32 teams get ready to battle for the coveted trophy in South Africa during 11 June- 11 July 2010. ESS will build upon its efforts of 2006 and millions of fans in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan will get to watch the network's extensive 2010 FIFA World Cup™ coverage, which will include live matches accompanied by English and Hindi commentary for all 64 games - daily pre-shows during match days, a daily review show as well as special lead-up programming.

Mr. Manu Sawhney, Managing Director, ESPN STAR Sports said, "We are extremely delighted to continue our partnership with FIFA with whom we share a very special relationship. This agreement is a testament to our commitment of building the game of football by presenting it in the most innovative and entertaining manner to millions of fans in the Indian subcontinent."

Mr. R C Venkateish, Managing Director, ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd, said, "ESPN STAR Sports has played a key role in propagating international soccer in India and the results have begun to show. Soccer viewership has shown a consistent increase. For instance, the reach of Barclays Premier League has grown at more than 40% per annum since 2005. The broadcast rights of over 275 international football games including the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will ensure that Indian soccer enthusiasts will continue to get world class soccer action on their TV screens."

 Mr Joseph S.  Blatter, FIFA President said, "I am proud that today with ESPN-Star-Sports an important key player in the sports industry is joining the FIFA Family to further enhance football across its platforms in the Sub-Indian region. The fact that ESPN Star Sports is entering in its record deal in Indian market, underlines its commitment to football. It ensures that images of our events including the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be seen by the widest possible audience across Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka -  steadily growing football markets. It is a major milestone in our history and the football in the entire region will undoubtedly benefit from this deal sealed today."

The successful conclusion of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ rights package sees the network continue its winning streak of securing top-flight football programming, which includes exclusive broadcast rights for the recently concluded UEFA Euro 2008 which saw record audience, Barclays Premier League, FA Cup and the Spanish Primera Liga. The agreement with FIFA will further reinforce the network's long-term position as the region's number one and the most complete sports broadcaster, both in terms of programming and the quality of its coverage.