BBC SPORT | WORLD CUP 2002 | World Cup TV deal agreed

British viewers will be able to watch the 2002 World Cup finals on terrestial television after agreement was reached over the cost of the broadcasting rights.

The BBC and ITV will once again share the TV coverage of the world's biggest football tournament in a deal that also includes rights for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.

Although the final price remains confidential, BBC bosses revealed that they had paid significantly less for both sets of finals than originally demanded for just the 2002 event.

German media company Kirch had asked for �170m from the BBC and ITV for the rights to broadcast all 64 matches in Korea and Japan.

We can now give our viewers the best seat in the house for the best football

Peter Salmon, BBC Director of Sport

The television companies originally offered �55m and refused to substantially increase the price on the table.

But several rounds of further negotiations took place after England qualified for the finals - and a deal has now been reached.

The agreement also includes non-exclusive rights for BBC Radio, which means listeners to Radio Five Live will be able to hear all the best action.

Some access for BBC Sport Online, which will be providing unprecedented coverage of the tournament, was also agreed.

BBC director of sport Peter Salmon
BBC director of sport Peter Salmon said: "We can now give our viewers the best seat in the house for the best football.

"With the BBC also screening the European Championship in 2004, we have the best football in the world for the next five years - guaranteed."

Dr Alexander Liegl, sports rights managing director at KirchMedia said: "We are very pleased that based on Thursday�s contract for the UK, agreement has been reached in a third key European market, following previous agreements announced in Germany and Spain.

"This is the largest sports-rights agreement ever signed by UK�s two major free-to-air television stations."

Sports Minister Richard Caborn added: "We have said consistently that football fans in Britain have a right to view the World Cup matches on terrestrial television. This agreement is to be welcomed."

With no limits access to all 64 matches, it is likely that about 56 will be shown live on television.

The next stage for the BBC will be to sit down with partners ITV and decide how they will share out the matches.


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