List of FIFA World Cup broadcasters

The FIFA World Cup was first on T.V. in 1954 and is now the most widely viewed and followed sporting event in the world, exceeding even the Olympic Games. The cumulative audience of all matches of the 2006 World Cup is estimated to be 26.29 billion.^[1] 715.2 million individuals watched the final match of this tournament (11% of the entire population of the planet). The 2006 World Cup draw, which decided the distribution of teams into groups, was watched by 300 million viewers.^[2]

Asia

Brunei

• 2006-now: Astro (all matches)
• 2002: STMB TV3 (all matches)
• 1978-1998 and 2006-now: RTB TV1

Hong Kong

• 2014: Television Broadcasts Limited (all matches)
• 2002-2010: Asia Television (4 matches), Television Broadcasts Limited (4 matches)and Hong Kong Cable Television (all matches)
• 1982-1998: Asia Television and Television Broadcasts Limited (all matches)
• 1974-1982: Hong Kong Television Broadcast Limited and Rediffusion Television (all matches)
• 1970: Hong Kong Television Broadcast Limited and Rediffusion Television Colour (all matches)
• 1958-1966: Rediffusion Television Black and White (all matches)

India

• 2014: Sony SIX all matches in SD, Sony Six HD all matches in HD, Sony PIX matches in SD that are at the same time as those shown on Sony Six, Sony Pix HD matches in HD that are at the same time as those on Sony Six HD

Indonesia

• 2014: ANTV (all matches in UHF analog free-to-air terrestrial), tvOne (all matches in UHF analog free-to-air terrestrial) and Viva+ (all matches in DVB-T digital satellite)
• 2010: RCTI (46-matches) and Global TV (20 matches)
• 2006: SCTV (all matches)
• 2002: RCTI (all matches)
• 1998: TVRI, RCTI, SCTV, TPI, ANTeve and Indosiar (all matches)
• 1994: TVRI and TPI (16 matches), RCTI (12 matches) and SCTV (8 matches)
• 1990: TVRI and RCTI (all matches)
• 1986: TVRI (all matches)
• 1982: TVRI Colour (all matches)
• 1966-1978: TVRI Black and White (all matches)

Japan

• 2014: Tokyo Nippon Television, TBS Television, Tokyo TV Asahi and TV Tokyo
• 2010: Tokyo Cable Television (all matches), Tokyo NHK General TV (22 matches), Tokyo Nippon Television (5 matches), Tokyo Fuji Television (5 matches), Tokyo TBS Television (5 matches), Tokyo TV Asahi (4 matches) and TV Tokyo (3 matches)
• 2006: Tokyo Fuji Television
• 1966-2002: TV Tokyo
• 1962-2002: Tokyo Fuji Television and Tokyo TV Asahi
• 1958-2002: Tokyo TBS Television
• 1954-2002: Tokyo NHK General TV and Tokyo Nippon Television

Malaysia

• 2006-now: Astro (all matches)
• 1998: NTV7 (all matches)
• 1986-2002: STMB TV3 (all matches)
• 1982-1998 and 2006-now: RTM TV1 and TV2 (all matches)
• 1970-1978: RTM Rangkaian Pertama and Rangkaian Kedua Black and White (all matches)
• 1966-1978: Televisyen Malaysia Black and White (all matches)

Mongolia

1978: Unknown 1982: Unknown 1986: Unknown 1990: Unknown 1994: Unknown 1998: Unknown 2002: Unknown 2006: ETV C1 Television (all matches) 2010: ETV C1 Television (all matches) 2014: ETV Mass TV (all matches)

Singapore

• 2014: MediaCorp Okto (4 matches) and StarHub TV/mio TV (all matches)^[3]
• 2010: MediaCorp TV Channel 5/HD5 (4 matches) and StarHub TV/mio TV (all matches)
• 2006: MediaCorp TV Channel 5 (4 matches) and StarHub Cable Vision (all matches)
• 2002: MediaCorp TV Channel 5 (all matches)
• 1998: Singapore Television 12 Premiere 12 (all matches)
• 1986-1994: Singapore Broadcasting Corporation Channel 12 (all matches)
• 1982: Singapore Broadcasting Corporation Channel 5 (all matches)
• 1978: Radio and Television of Singapore Channel 5 (all matches)
• 1974 Final: Radio and Television of Singapore Channel 5 Colour (all matches)
• 1966-1974: Radio and Television of Singapore Channel 5 Black and White (all matches)

South Korea

• 2002-present: KBS, MBC and SBS (all matches)

Thailand

• 2010-2014: RS International Broadcasting & Sports Management Co.,Ltd. (by its RS FIFA World Cup Channel, Channel 8 and with Channel 5, Channel 7, NBT)
• 2002-2006: FIFA World Cup|2006: Dhospaak Communication Agency Co.,Ltd. (Thai Beverage Group) with Channel 3, Channel 5, Channel 7, 9 and Channel 11
• 1966-1998: The Television Pool of Thailand (TPT) membered by Channel 7 B/W TV or Channel 5 Color TV, Channel 4 B/W TV or Channel 9 Color TV, Channel 7 Color TV and Channel 3

Australia

• 2014-now: SBS
• 2010: SBS, ESPN
• 2006: SBS
• 2002: SBS, Nine Network
• 1986-1998: SBS

Europe

Austria

• 1958-now: ORF

Belgium

• 1954-now: RTBF and VRT

Germany

• 2014: ARD and ZDF

Finland

• 1962-now: Yle

Greece

• 2014-now: NERIT
• 1970s-2010: ERT

Hungary

• 2006: RTL Klub
• 1958-2002 and 2010-now: MTV

Italy

• 1954-now: RAI

Poland

• 2010–2014: TVP (all 64 matches)
• 2002–2006: TVP (12 matches in 2002, 32 matches in 2006) and Polsat Sport (all 64 matches)
• 1974–1998: TVP
• 1970: TP (final only, on a three day tape-delay)
• 1966: TP

Spain

• 2014: Telecinco, Cuatro and Gol Televisión
• 2010: Telecinco, Cuatro and Digital+
• 2006: laSexta, Cuatro and Digital+
• 2002: Antena 3 and Vía Digital
• 1962–1998: TVE

United Kingdom

Over 100 nations have provided wall-to-wall coverage since the communications satellite launchings allowed for worldwide coverage beginning in 1966. European coverage of the World Cup has been extensive since 1954 (though with the World Cup held in Chile in 1962, much of the Euro coverage that year was tape-delayed).

Broadcast of the qualification for the World Cup Finals for England is currently held by ITV (terrestrial, home and away matches) with Sky holding rights for home and away matches for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These were previously held by the BBC but BBC have highlights of each home nation in their respective nation so BBC Scotland show Scotland highlights, BBC Wales show Wales highlights and BBC Northern Ireland show NI highlights.

However, coverage of the World Cup Finals is on a government mandated 'protected' list meaning it must be shown on free-to-air terrestrial television (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five) as opposed to satellite or cable television.^[4] Although only one broadcaster is required, the two biggest terrestrial operators, the BBC and ITV, have always made a joint bid for coverage with broadcast of the Home Nations matches (particularly England) alternating between the broadcasters up to the later stages of the tournament. This is believed to prevent an extremely expensive bidding war for coverage between the two networks, with the current agreement running until the 2014 tournament.

Notes

• In the 2006 World Cup, ITV showed two of England's three group games, with the BBC showing one. However, the BBC would then have shown England through to the final, had they made it; this would have been on an exclusive basis for the round of 16 and the quarter finals (the latter being the round where England were actually eliminated), with coverage of the semi-final and final being shared with ITV.^[5] The same method was used for the 2010 World Cup, where ITV showed the first two England games, and the BBC would have shown the next two, with England's semi final shared on both channels and the Final as well, but with England eliminated in the second round, the BBC instead had the first choice of the two quarter finals, and ITV the choice of a semi final and the third place match, with both channels showing the Final.
• For the 2014 World Cup the BBC is showing England first match against Italy with ITV showing the other 2 matches against Uruguay and Costa Rica. BBC have first choice for the 2nd round while ITV have first choice quarter final so if England get to the Quarters the match should be exclusively live on ITV.

North America

Canada

CBC broadcast the FIFA World Cup in 1986, 2002 and 2010. It will also broadcast the 2014 World Cup, along with SportsNet. TSN also broadcast the FIFA World Cup in 1990, the FIFA World Cup in 1994, and the FIFA World Cup in 1998.^[6] On October 27, 2011, Bell Media and TSN announced that they had secured broadcast rights for FIFA soccer from 2015 to 2022. The rights include the 2018 FIFA World Cup, 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup—which will be hosted in Canada.^[7]

Mexico

• 1974-now: Televisa and TV Azteca (all matches)
• 1954-1970: Telesistema Mexicano (all matches)

United States

English-language television

Finals

Notes

• The first American coverage of the World Cup consisted only of a previously filmed telecast of the 1966 Final on NBC. The Final was aired before their coverage of the Saturday Major League Baseball Game of the Week. NBC used the black & white BBC feed and aired it on a two-hour film delay. This was the first time soccer had been shown in the United States as a stand-alone broadcast. Previously, ABC's Wide World of Sports had shown England's Football Association Cup on as long as a two-week delay.
• 1970's coverage was usually week-old filmed highlights shown on ABC’s Wide World of Sports.
• 1974's coverage also contained week-old filmed highlights on CBS Sports Spectacular.
• 1978 had no English language coverage on American television at all.

Other rounds

Notes

• In 1982, PBS and ESPN provided the first thorough American television coverage of the World Cup. ABC aired the first live telecast of the final. ABC aired commercials during the live action. Meanwhile, PBS aired same day highlights of the top game of the day.

• 1986 marked the first time that the World Cup had extensive live cable and network television coverage in the United States. ESPN carried most of the weekday matches while NBC did weekend games.

• In 1990, the World Cup was covered exclusively by cable television (TNT) in the United States and had many features of the host country (Italy).

• The 1994 American coverage had many firsts: The first with all of the matches televised, the first with no commercial interruptions during live action, and the first to feature an on-screen score & time box.

• In 1998, all of the matches were televised in the United States live for the first time.

• The 2002 American coverage was all live as well, in spite of the games being played in Japan and South Korea, and therefore aired in the middle of the night.

• The 2006 coverage from Germany was fully live as well.
  • Dave O'Brien joined Marcelo Balboa on the primary broadcast team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup coverage on ESPN and ABC Sports, despite having no experience calling soccer matches prior to that year. Because The Walt Disney Company, owner of both television outlets, retained control over on-air talent, the appointment of O'Brien as the main play-by-play voice was made over the objections of Soccer United Marketing, who wanted JP Dellacamera to continue in that role. Disney stated that their broadcast strategy was intended, in voice and style, to target the vast majority of Americans who do not follow the sport on a regular basis. Mispronunciation and incorrect addressing of names, misuse of soccer terminology, and lack of insight into tactics and history plagued the telecasts, resulting in heavy criticism from English-speaking soccer fans, many of whom ended up watching the games on Univision instead.^[31][32]

• The 2010 coverage from South Africa introduced ESPN 3D for 25 matches.

• The 2014 coverage will be available on mobile devices and tablets via the WatchESPN application as well as on Xbox 360 and Xbox One video game consoles, live and on-demand, via the ESPN on Xbox Live application.

Spanish-language television

Notes

• Recently, José Luis Chilavert would occasionally join Pablo Ramirez and Jesus Bracamontes on the booth, usually during the FIFA World Cup Final match.
• Univision will lose its 44 year transmission of the World Cup due to Telemundo buying rights.

South America

Argentina

• 2014: Futbol Para Todos, Canal 13, Telefe and TyC Sports
• 2010: Canal 7, Telefe and TyC Sports
• 2006: América 2, Canal 7, Canal 9, Telefe, Canal 13 and TyC Sports
• 2002: América 2, Canal 7 and TyC Sports
• 1998: América 2, Telefe and Canal 13
• 1994: América 2, ATC, Telefe and Canal 13
• 1990: ATC
• 1982-1986: Canal 2, ATC, Canal 9, Canal 11 and Canal 13
• 1978: A78TV
• 1962-1974: Canal 7 and Canal 13
• 1958: Canal 7

Brazil

• 2014: Rede Globo, Rede Bandeirantes, SporTV, ESPN Brasil, BandSports and Fox Sports
• 2010: Rede Globo, Rede Bandeirantes, SporTV, ESPN Brasil and BandSports
• 2006: Rede Globo, SporTV, ESPN Brasil and BandSports
• 2002: Rede Globo and SporTV
• 1998: Rede Globo, Rede Bandeirantes, SBT, Rede Manchete, Rede Record, SporTV and ESPN Brasil
• 1994: Rede Globo, Rede Bandeirantes, SBT and SporTV
• 1990: Rede Globo, Rede Bandeirantes, SBT and Rede Manchete
• 1986: Rede Globo, Rede Bandeirantes, SBT, Rede Manchete and Rede Record
• 1982: Rede Globo
• 1978: Rede Globo, Rede Bandeirantes, Rede Tupi and Rede Record
• 1974: Rede Globo, Rede Bandeirantes, Rede Tupi, Rede Record and Rede Gazeta
• 1970: Rede Globo, Rede Bandeirantes, Rede Tupi and Rede Record

Chile

• 2014c TVN and Canal 13
• 2010: TVN
• 2006: TVN, Megavisión and Red Televisión
• 2002: TVN and Canal 13
• 1998: TVN, Canal 13 and Chilevisión
• 1978-1994: TVN and Canal 13
• 1974: TVN
• 1970: Canal 13
• 1962-1966: Canal 13 and Canal 9

Colombia

• 2014: Caracol TV and RCN TV
• 1998: Canal Uno, Canal A, Caracol TV and RCN TV
• 1994: Cadena Uno and Canal A
• 1990: Cadena Uno and Cadena Dos
• 1962: Cadena Uno

Perú

• Free TV:ATV(2002-Present), América Televisión (1970-1998) and Pantel (1978-1998) (all matches)
• Pay TV: DirecTV Sports (all matches) 2002–present)

Paraguay

• Free TV: SNT , Red Guaraní, Telefuturo and El Trece (all matches) (1978–present)

• Pay TV: Tigo Sports (all matches) (2014)

Uruguay

• Free TV: Monte Carlo TV, Teledoce and Canal 10 (all matches) (1974–present)
• Pay TV: DirecTV Sports (All Matches) (2002–present)

See also

References

Sources

• World Cup broadcasting history in the U.S.
  • The early days of World Cup broadcasting in the US
• Overnight Ratings For World Cup Final Since 1998

FIFA World Cup Tournaments Uruguay 1930 Italy 1934 France 1938 Brazil 1950 Switzerland 1954 Sweden 1958 Chile 1962 England 1966 Mexico 1970 West Germany 1974 Argentina 1978 Spain 1982 Mexico 1986 Italy 1990 United States 1994 France 1998 South Korea/Japan 2002 Germany 2006 South Africa 2010 Brazil 2014 Russia 2018 Qatar 2022 2026 Finals 1930 1934 1938 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 Qualification 1930 1934 1938 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 Squads 1930 1934 1938 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 Seedings 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 Broadcasters 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 Bids 2014 2018 and 2022 2026 2030 Statistics All-time table Goalscorers top goalscorers finals goalscorers hat-tricks milestone goals own goals Penalty shoot-outs Player appearances Records Red cards Referees Team appearances Teams with no appearances Miscellaneous Awards Balls Broadcasters Economics History Hosts Mascots Official films Official songs Trophy Video games Notes: There was no qualification for the 1930 World Cup as places were given by invitation only. In 1950, there was no final; the article is about the decisive match of the final group stage.