2010 FIFA World Cup Broadcast

Football, like music, is a universal language, it’s then no surprise that the game is extremely popular in India and the Indian Subcontinent. There was recently a big hustle and bustle between television channels for the broadcasting rights of the FIFA World Cup 2010. Three channels placed bids for the broadcasting rights – Ten Sports, Neo Sports and ESPN Star Sports. Ten Sports put forth a bid of US$35 million while Neo Sports put forth one of US$28 million. However, it was ESPN Star Sports who emerged the victor in the ‘Battle of Bids’ with a bid of US$40 million. ESPN Star Sports, obviously, clinched the deal since it made the highest bid. Ironically, the rights for the 2006 FIFA World Cup was bagged for US$8 million while the rights for the 2002 FIFA World Cup was bagged for a paltry US$ 3 million. ESPN, in the Indian subcontinent, will be now responsible for bringing live telecasts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches for the fans of the game. The matches will be telecasted in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. Read on to zero in on ESPN’s broadcasting schedule for the 2010 World Cup matches.

 

 

 

With the popularity of football increasing in India every passing day, the acquisition of rights to telecast the FIFA World Cup 2010 recently witnessed a mad scramble among television channels. Ultimately it was ESPN Star Sports which emerged victorious, but it had to bid $40 million for acquiring the telecast rights. In comparison, the right to the 2006 FIFA World Cup was clinched at just $8 million, whereas that for 2002 got bagged for just $ 3 million. Even Ten Sports and Neo Sports were interested in acquiring the telecast rights. Ten Sports had placed a bid of $35 million, whereas Neo Sports stuck to its $28 million bid. One hears the entire scenario changed after calls for fresh bids were made. 

 

From the three interested parties, it was ESPN that emerged as the highest bidder. The profits which television channels out of airing sports event is evident from the fact that the 2006 world cup was viewed by more than 50 million people in just India. Consequently, the ESPN would be telecasting 275 international football games, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Confederations Cup as the 32 teams gear up for the coveted trophy in South Africa between June 11 and July 11, 2010. The ESPN has clinched telecast rights for India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.