FIFA's TV Division is structured to meet the demands of 21st century broadcasting, technology and media environments.

With rapidly increasing media convergence and the subsequent proliferation of content, it is increasingly important for rights holders, advertisers, sponsors and other commercial entities to stand out from the crowd. FIFA, through the FIFA World Cup™ and its portfolio of other events, delivers standard-setting quality content to broadcasters in all corners of the globe.

It also offers many other unique programming opportunities: the FIFA Films archive, with footage of past FIFA events showcasing stars of previous eras, as well famous players today as they were in their youth; DVDs; and official documentaries.

Broadcast rights to all FIFA events, including the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Women's World Cup, are handled through FIFA TV in Zurich, Switzerland.

The subdivision comprises four departments:

  1. Sales & Distribution
  2. FIFA Films & Products
  3. Broadcaster Servicing
  4. Host Broadcasting Production

Update on 2008 TV activities

FIFA's TV Division wrapped up another highly successful year on the road to South Africa after completing the worldwide sales of television rights for the 2010 FIFA World Cup some 18 months before kick-off. This ensures almost blanket coverage across the globe - from Addis Ababa to Zurich, Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.

The early completion of the rights distribution allows global broadcasters to concentrate on programming and product development around the FIFA World Cup, fostering production quality of the highest order in 2010. What is more, FIFA will be able to focus on delivering its obligations and services to the global broadcast community, thereby guaranteeing that the FIFA World Cup remains the world's most exclusive and valuable sports media rights property.

The last of the major deals was sealed in December, when Sogecable secured the rights for Spain, but perhaps the most significant document signed by the TV Division in 2008 was the Strategic Cooperation Agreement between FIFA and the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB). This wide-ranging agreement covers not only an innovative approach to the allocation of TV rights in 41 sub-Saharan territories, but also commits FIFA and the AUB to working together on legacy projects such as training AUB members in aspects of TV production, journalism and marketing in the coming years. The first course started in January 2009. 

FIFA and the AUB will also work together in allocating the TV rights for the 2010 FIFA World Cup across the sub-Saharan region, ensuring that all 64 matches of the first FIFA World Cup on African soil can be seen free of charge by the people of Africa. For the first time, FIFA will be involved directly with the broadcasters of the sub-Saharan region, allowing them to harness the power of the FIFA World Cup and international football to further the development of the sport, and the local media, through the influential medium of television. 

FIFA TV also launched its first ever mobile rights distribution project, supporting FIFA's goal of making the FIFA World Cup available to as many people as possible through multiple communication platforms. The FIFA Mobile site is due for launch in the first half of 2009, and mobile operators around the world will stream all 64 matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup live to mobile handsets. Users will also be able to receive highlights and updates to their phones on a near-live basis, making it possible to follow all the action even when a television set is not in sight. 

Meanwhile, back in South Africa, preparations for the global broadcast operations continue apace. Planning and work on the International Broadcast Coordination Centre, right next to Soccer City in Johannesburg, is ongoing. The Draw for the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 was successfully televised to a national audience, and made available globally live via satellite. 

FIFA TV was also active in delivering FIFA's 2008 events to a global audience, with all matches of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Marseille 2008, FIFA Futsal World Cup Brazil 2008, FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup New Zealand 2008 and FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Chile 2008 produced and transmitted live to FIFA's Media Rights Licensees for broadcast in up to 197 territories. Some major broadcast goals were reached, including the screening of all 32 matches of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup live in the host territory of New Zealand, the broadcasting of Chile's matches in the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Chile 2008 live to a national free-to-air audience in prime time, as well as outstanding coverage of women's junior football in Europe, with 27 matches shown live across up to 55 European territories, and a further 18 matches shown delayed. 

During all the 2008 FIFA events, FIFA's broadcast licensees provided promotional support for the event and FIFA's social responsibility campaigns through free advertising spots on air. It is estimated that over the course of 2008, the broadcasters in the respective host territories provided, free of charge to FIFA and the Local Organising Committees, well over 1,000 advertising slots for FIFA events and campaigns.

In light of the successful endeavours of 2008, the TV Division will work in 2009 on delivering the African football experience to the world, through the broadcast legacy programmes and the FIFA events held across the continent, and will continue with broadcast preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.