Advanced Television

NBC Universo, Telemundo acquire FIFA event rights

March 24, 2015

NBCUniversal’s Telemundo and NBC Universo, the official broadcaster for Spanish-language of the FIFA World Cup in the US across all video platforms, announced details of their plans to telecast four 2015 FIFA football Events. Both networks will deliver to sports fans throughout the US an unprecedented 560 hours of football action in 2015. The extensive coverage will include 344 hours of online and mobile live-streams making it the first time that all the matches of four FIFA football Events are made available in Spanish to a nationwide audience.

Between May and October of this year, Telemundo and NBC Universowill feature comprehensive FIFA coverage and showcase exclusive content including country and player profiles, behind-the-scenes footage from each venue, pre-match analyses, every play-by-play call and much more. Fans will be able to access every entertaining and action-filled moment on all their devices across multiple platforms including live telecasts, live streams, VOD, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

“We are proud to be the first media company to offer such a comprehensive coverage of FIFA World Cup events in the United States in Spanish,” said Joe Uva, Chairman, Hispanic Enterprises and Content, NBCUniversal. “Starting in May, we will leverage all of our linear and digital platforms to bring to US Hispanics the best football in the world presented by an experienced team of talent and professionals with a deep understanding of sports broadcasting and storytelling.”

The first FIFA tournament will feature the Men’s U-20 national teams, hosted by New Zealand from May 30 to June 20. Telemundo and NBC Universowill stream live all 52 matches. In addition, Telemundo will air live 10 matches including all competition involving the Mexican National Team, two Round 16 matches, two Quarter Final matches, one Semifinal and the Championship Final. The NBC Universotelecasts will include 21 live matches, including the FIFA U-20 World Cup Opening Match, all USA National Team group stage matches, two Mexican National Team simulcasts, four Round 16 matches, two Quarterfinal matches and one Semifinal match. NBC Universowill also air an encore presentation of the Championship Final.

One week following the start of the FIFA U-20 World Cup tournament, the FIFA Women’s World Cup will kick off in Canada with matches taking place June 6 through July 5. Again, Telemundo and NBC Universowill stream live all 52 matches. Telemundo also will air 10 women’s matches including the opening game of the tournament, every competition featuring the Mexican National Team, three Round-of-16 matches, one Quarterfinal match and the Championship Final. NBC Universowill feature 21 live matches, including all USA National Team group stage matches as well as a simulcast of Team USA competition, if it advances to the later rounds; four Round-of-16 matches, two Quarterfinal matches and two Semifinal matches. NBC Universowill also re-air both the opening and Championship Final matches.

Four days after the FIFA Women’s World Cup champion is decided, the Men’s FIFA Beach football World Cup hosted by Portugal will take place July 9 to July 19. It will be followed by the final FIFA World Cup competition of 2015 featuring U-17 national teams, which will take the pitch in Chile from October 17 to November 8. Many of these future football superstars will have the opportunity to represent their country and display their skills on the world stage. Additional programming details for these the U-17 and Beach tournaments will be forthcoming.

“Telemundo will take the 2015 FIFA football events coverage to an unprecedented level,” said Luis Silberwasser, President of Telemundo Network. “We will broadcast more Women’s and U-20 matches than any other broadcast network in the history of Spanish-language TV, including the final match for the Women’s World Cup, which will return to Spanish-language network TV after eight years. Ultimately, our viewers will enjoy the best football in the world with the high quality and expert commentary they have come to expect from us.”

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