Zug, Switzerland / Tokyo, Japan, 17 March 2006 – FIFA has announced its decision on the distribution for the Asian broadcast rights to the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup™ and all FIFA Events between 2007 and 2014 following its tender process that was commenced in the autumn 2005. It has appointed a newly-formed joint venture established between two of its long-term partners, Infront Sports & Media, the international sports marketing company, and Dentsu, the Japan-based advertising company.

The joint venture company is co-owned by Dentsu and Infront and is headquartered in Singapore, where it will carry out the marketing activities as FIFA’s exclusive sales representative for the Asian region.

The rights included in the appointment are in the categories of television, radio, broadband internet and mobile broadcasting in the key Asian territories. The Japanese TV rights for the FIFA World Cup™ in 2010 and 2014, which were previously awarded to Dentsu in March 2005, do not form part of the new JV company.

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter commented: “This appointment gives FIFA the best of all worlds – it maintains the continuity of its relationship with Infront, the company which has exclusively handled global broadcast rights sales so successfully for the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups™ and secures the support of Dentsu’s influence and experience in the Asian region. “

“Both parties are strong in Asia and understand the FIFA property very well based on our successful histories of working together with FIFA,” said Oscar Frei, President and CEO of Infront. “This decision also recognises Infront’s growing presence in the critically important market of Asia and we are grateful to FIFA for entrusting the Infront/Dentsu partnership with this important growth market for football.”

“This expanded role is the result of our long and rewarding partnership with FIFA”, said Haruyuki Takahashi, Managing Director of Dentsu’s International Headquarters. “As a FIFA’s exclusive sales representative, Dentsu, together with Infront Sports & Media, will enhance its role as a communications company by contributing to the expansion of the world of soccer.”

For further information, please contact:

Jörg Polzer
Infront Sports & Media AG
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
Fax +41-41-723 15 16
mailtjoerg.polzer@infrontsports.com
http://www.infrontsports.com/

Yukihiro Oguchi
Dentsu Inc.
Senior Manager Corporate Communications Division
Tel. +81-813-6216 8042
mailtyukihiro.oguchi@dentsu.co.jp
www.dentsu.com

FIFA Media Department
Tel. +41-43-222 7272
Fax +41-43-222 7373
mailtmedia@fifa.org
http://www.fifa.com/

Infront Sports & Media AG
Grafenauweg 2
P.O. Box 4442
6304 Zug, Switzerland
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
Fax +41-41-723 15 16
http://www.infrontsports.com/
info@infrontsports.com