Zug, Switzerland, 13 February 2006 — Host Broadcast Services (HBS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Infront Sports & Media AG, was announced today as the host broadcaster for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. Additionally, HBS will consult FIFA on host broadcasting matters for all other events from 2007 to 2010.
 
HBS is the same company that successfully produced the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ and is also organising the entire broadcast operations and infrastructure for the upcoming FIFA World Cup™ in Germany. For the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, HBS's role again includes every single aspect of the production of the signal as well as providing necessary services and facilities to rights holders and licensees in order to fulfil their production needs.
 
"We are delighted that we had been awarded the contract and that we are able to continue our successful partnership with FIFA", said Oscar Frei, CEO of Infront.
 
"It is fitting that a host broadcast organisation of HBS's experience and quality will continue to provide the pictures that will be watched by millions of people across the world. HBS's commitment and professionalism has convinced FIFA to extend the partnership until 2010. As the FIFA World Cup™ is currently the most widely covered single sporting event in the world a successful broadcast service is a prerequisite for staging a successful event. HBS delivered a high level of satisfaction amongst our rights-holding broadcast partners over the past years", commented FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter.
 
"It is both a challenge and a responsibility for FIFA to further develop football across the world with the help of worldwide television coverage. I am looking forward to the fruits of this winning partnership with HBS who has contributed significantly to the high standard of broadcast over the last years", said Jérôme Valcke, Director of FIFA Marketing & TV.
 
HBS will also produce the next edition of the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2009 and provide ongoing consulting services involving all other FIFA events (with the exception of the FIFA World Club Championship) to ensure the best professional solution and consistent standards for host broadcasting FIFA's events.
 
"We are extremely proud that FIFA has acknowledged the quality of services and innovations our teams have provided in the areas of host broadcasting. Our concept of an independent and a highly specialised dedicated host broadcast organisation has proved its excellence and we will deliver the highest achievable standards of coverage, facilities and service to broadcasters of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™", said Francis Tellier, CEO of HBS.
 
For further information, please contact:
Jörg Polzer
Infront Sports & Media AG
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
Fax +41-41-723 15 16
info@infrontsports.com
 
Nicola Taylor
Host Broadcast Services
Tel. + 33-1-55 19 20 08
Fax + 33-1-55 19 20 03
ntaylor@hbs.tv
www.hbs.tv
 
FIFA Media Department
Tel.+41-43-222 7272
Fax +41-43-222 7373
media@fifa.org
www.FIFA.com