21.02.05 -- Infront Sports & Media has reached an exclusive agreement with RTR State TV & Radio Broadcasting Company for the television and radio rights of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in the Russian Federation.

Zug, Switzerland, 21 February 2005 - Infront Sports & Media has reached an exclusive agreement with RTR State TV & Radio Broadcasting Company for the television and radio rights of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in the Russian Federation. RTR have acquired both the television and the radio broadcast rights for all matches of the tournament in the Russian language.
 
RTR is the region's state broadcaster and the agreement will ensure that this substantial territory will receive extensive free to air television and radio coverage of the 2006 event.
 
RTR was a broadcast partner at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan ™ and is continuing its relationship with the FIFA World Cup™. It will take the majority of matches live on its main channel, reaching the maximum audience.
 
Inspired by the popularity of the 2002 FIFA World Cup ™ broadcasts, RTR has since launched its own successful dedicated sports channel "RTR Sports". The existence of this additional channel will ensure that there is another platform available to further increase the coverage of the FIFA World Cup™ in Russia. The sports channel is expected to be used extensively, offering Russian viewers further choices of when and how to view the event.
 
Oliver Seibert, an Executive Director of Infront, FIFA's television partner, said: "The Russian Federation is a very fast growing market, especially in media. The Russian public is very dedicated to soccer and the choice of RTR as a partner is good news and will make an important contribution to the total audience for 2006".
 
The sale of 2006 FIFA World Cup™ broadcasting rights is now substantially complete. As of January 2005, completed sales levels were at 85% in Europe, 100% in South and Central America and 90% in the Pacific region. Most recent agreements have been with ESPN STAR Sports of Asia, BK Telekom for rights in Serbia and Montenegro and Macedonia, M-League Marketing of Malaysia and German Pay-Television company Premiere Fernsehen.
 
For further information, please contact:
John Kristick Infront Sports & Media AG
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
Fax. +41-41-723-1516
info@infrontsports.com