KirchMedia GmbH & Co. KGaA, owner of the worldwide television rights to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan and the 2006 World Cup in Germany, has reached agreement with the public broadcaster RAI in Italy on the exclusive television rights to the 2002 FIFA World Cup and on the 25 top games to the 2006 FIFA World Cup as well as on the radio rights.

RAI, which entered into the contract via its related company RAI Trade, is to pay 299 billion Lire for the rights purchase. In addition, the agreement includes an option to acquire the exclusive rights to the complete FIFA World Cup 2006 for 170 billion Lire. If the Italian team reaches the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final, KirchMedia and RAI agreed on further payments of up to 14 billion Lire.

The broadcasting rights to the FIFA World Cup in 2002 have now been awarded for 21 countries in Europe as well as the greater part of Asia, including the host countries Korea and Japan, Central and South America and Africa, including South Africa. With respect to the USA, an agreement has been signed for the Spanish-language rights and negotiations on the English-language rights are at a very advanced stage.

For further information please contact:

For questions kindly contact:
KirchMedia GmbH & Co. KGaA
Hartmut Schultz
Corporate Spokesman
Telephone: +49 (0)89 9956-2325
hartmut.schultz@kirchgruppe.de