List of FIFA World Cup broadcasters

The FIFA World Cup was first broadcast on television in 1954 and is now the most widely viewed and followed sporting event in the world, exceeding even the Olympic Games.^[1] 715.2 million individuals watched the final match of the 2006 tournament (representing 11 percent 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)
• 1994-2002: STMB TV3 (all matches in live telecast)
• 1978-1990 and 2006-now: RTB TV1

Hong Kong

• 2018: LeTV - LeSports Hong Kong (all matches)
• 2014: Television Broadcasts Limited (all matches in live telecast)
• 2002-2010: Asia Television (4-matches), Television Broadcasts Limited (4-matches) and Hong Kong Cable Television (all matches)
• 1986-1998: Asia Television and Television Broadcasts Limited (all matches in live telecast)
• 1974-1982: Hong Kong Television Broadcast Limited and Rediffusion Television (all matches in live telecast)
• 1970: Hong Kong Television Broadcast Limited and Rediffusion Television Colour (all matches in live telecast)
• 1958-1966: Rediffusion Television Black and White (all matches)

Indonesia

• 2014: ANTV (all matches simulcast with tvOne in live telecast), tvOne (all matches simulcast with ANTV in live telecast), Viva+ (all matches simulcast with K-vision) and K-vision] (all matches simulcast with Viva+)
• 2010: RCTI (46-matches) and Global TV (20-matches)
• 2006: SCTV (all matches)
• 2002: RCTI (all matches in live telecast)
• 1998: TVRI, RCTI, SCTV, TPI, ANTeve and Indosiar (all matches in live telecast)
• 1994: TVRI (12-matches), TPI (16-matches), RCTI (all matches in live telecast) and SCTV (8-matches)
• 1990: TVRI (10-matches) and RCTI (all matches in live telecast)
• 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 Fuji Television, Tokyo TV Asahi and TV Tokyo (all matches in live telecast)
• 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 (all matches)
• 1962-2002: Tokyo Fuji Television and Tokyo TV Asahi (all matches)
• 1958-2002: Tokyo TBS Television (all matches)
• 1954-2002: Tokyo NHK General TV and Tokyo Nippon Television (all matches)

Malaysia

• 2006-now: Astro (all matches)
• 1998: NTV7 (all matches simulcast with TV3 in live telecast)
• 1994-2002: STMB TV3 (all matches shares with NTV7 in live telecast)
• 1982-1990 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)

Pakistan

• 2014: PTV Sports (all matches)

Singapore

• 2010-now: MediaCorp TV12 Okto (4-matches) and StarHub TV/Singtel TV (all matches)
• 2006: MediaCorp TV12 Central (4-matches) and StarHub Cable Vision (all matches)
• 2002: SPH MediaWorks Channel i (4-matches) and Singapore Cable Vision (all matches)
• 1998: Singapore Television Twelve (STV12) Premiere 12 (all matches)
• 1994: STMB TV3 (all matches in live telecast)
• 1986-1990: Singapore Broadcasting Corporation Channel 12 (all matches)
• 1982: Singapore Broadcasting Corporation Channel 8 (opening match) and Channel 5 (semifinal and final)
• 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

• 1994-2002: KBS and SBS (all matches in live telecast)
• 2006: KBS, MBC and SBS (all matches)
• 2010: SBS (all matches)
• 2014-now: KBS (all matches in live telecast)

Thailand

• 1966-now: Channel 3, Channel 7, Channel 9 and NBT11 (all matches)

Viet Nam

• 1998-now: VTV3 (all matches)

Australia

• 2014-now: SBS (all matches in live telecast)
• 2010: SBS, ESPN
• 2006: SBS
• 1994-2002: ABC Television and Nine Network (all matches in live telecast)
• 1986-1990: SBS

Europe

Austria

• 1958-now: ORF

Belgium

• 1954-now: RTBF and VRT

Germany

• 1990-now: Das Erste and ZDF (all matches)

Finland

• 1962-now: Yle

Greece

• 2018-now: ERT
• 2014: 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.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.

Middle East and North Africa

• 2002-2006:ART Sport (all matches)
• 2010-2022:beIN Sports (all matches)

North America

Canada

CBC broadcast the FIFA World Cup in 1986, 2002 and 2010, as well as the 2014 World Cup, along with Sportsnet. TSN also broadcast the FIFA World Cup in 1990, 1994, and 1998.^[5] On October 27, 2011, Bell Media, the parent company of 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.^[6]

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 FIFA 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.^[30][31]

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

• The 2014 coverage was 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.

• Starting in 2018, coverage will be available on mobile devices and tablets via the Fox Sports Go application.

Spanish-language television

Notes

• From 2002 to 2014, José Luis Chilavert joined Pablo Ramirez and Jesus Bracamontes on the booth during the Univision broadcast of the FIFA World Cup Final match.
• Due to Telemundo's rights to the FIFA World Cup, NBC Universo and NBC Deportes different platforms on their mobile devices and tablets via the NBC Deportes En Vivo Extra application, will broadcast additional matches starting in 2018.

South America

Argentina

• 2014: Futbol Para Todos and TyC Sports
• 2010: Canal 7, Telefe and TyC Sports
• 2006: América 2, Canal Siete, Canal 9, Telefe, El Trece and TyC Sports
• 2002: América 2, Canal 7 and TyC Sports
• 1998: América 2, Canal 9 Libertad, 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 and TV Cultura
• 1978: Rede Globo, Rede Bandeirantes, Rede Tupi, Rede de Emissoras Independentes and TV Cultura
• 1974: Rede Globo, Rede Bandeirantes, Rede Tupi, Rede de Emissoras Independentes, Rede Gazeta and TV Cultura
• 1970: Rede Globo, Rede Bandeirantes, Rede Tupi and Rede de Emissoras Independentes

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

• 2018: Caracol TV and RCN TV
• 2014: Caracol TV and RCN TV
• 2010: Caracol TV and RCN TV
• 2006: Caracol TV and RCN TV
• 2002: 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 and DirecTV Sports (all matches) (2014)

Uruguay

• Free TV: Monte Carlo TV, Teledoce, Canal 7 and Canal 10 (all matches) (1974–present)
• Pay TV: VTV Sports and 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