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In the build-up to this year’s World Cup in Germany, BBC Worldwide has concluded a number of deals with leading Asian networks to screen More Than A Game, the story of the emergence of each of the superpowers of world football.

The programme, which promises to be the definitive account of the World Cup and has already been pre-sold to over thirty territories internationally, has been licensed to Discovery Networks India, Hong Kong Cable TV, MediaCorp in Singapore, SBS in South Korea and Channel 9 in Thailand.

Developed in association with FIFA, More Than A Game explores the 76 years of World Cup football for the very first time, including exclusive access to FIFA’s stunningly shot film archive and interviews with some of the greatest names ever to grace a football pitch.

Announcing the deals in the lead-in to Sportel Asia 2006 in Shanghai, Richard Hornsby-Smith, Sport Sales Manager at BBC Worldwide, said: “More Than A Game showcases the greatest moments of the World Cup. We have found that it appeals to both football aficionados and the uninitiated.”

“We are absolutely delighted, therefore, that millions of Asian TV viewers will now be able to share in the excitement and anticipation surrounding this year’s event in Germany. Thanks to BBC Worldwide’s successful international licensing of More Than A Game, they’ll be in good company, joining the tens of millions of fellow fans who will be watching the programme in Australasia, Europe, the Middle East and South America – proof, indeed, of football’s ability to unite the world,” he continued.

More Than a Game is produced by Tom Ware. It is a BBC Bristol production, executive produced by Michael Poole.

Note to editors:

BBC Worldwide Ltd
BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).  The company exists to maximise the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the licence payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights.  In 2004/05 BBC Worldwide returned £145 million to the BBC from its six business operations: TV Channels, TV Sales, BBC Magazines, Home Entertainment, Children’s and New Media.

Oliver Rawlins
Senior Press Officer, Global TV Sales & Publishing
BBC Worldwide Communications
Tel: +44 (0)20 8433 3124
E-mail: oliver.rawlins@bbc.co.uk
www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide