Copa Mundial @ Univision 2010 & 2014.

Univision Communications Inc. announced that it has won the exclusive Spanish-language television rights to broadcast throughout the United States and Puerto Rico the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup soccer tournaments, in addition to a large portfolio of very popular FIFA soccer events, including the FIFA Women’s World Cups 2007 and 2011 and FIFA Confederations Cups 2009 and 2013, as well as 22 additional tournaments, for $325 million. The FIFA World Cup, which will take place in South Africa in 2010 and in a location in South America yet to be named in 2014, is considered the world’s premier sporting event and is enjoyed by billions of viewers across the globe every four years.

In 2002, Univision’s high-profile broadcast of the FIFA World Cup attracted 35 million viewers. More than 50 million viewers are expected to tune in to the 2006 games due to better game times and the growing popularity of the sport in the U.S. Univision has already secured a record $180 million in advertiser commitments for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and still has remaining inventory to sell.

“The FIFA World Cup is the most important sporting event among U.S. Hispanics,” said Ray Rodriguez, President and Chief Operating Officer, Univision Communications. “This headlining event has enormous advertiser and audience appeal and we expect it will bring record audiences. We look forward to working with FIFA in the U.S. to support this great sport.”

“For nearly 30 years, millions of fans have turned to Univision for outstanding, exclusive coverage of the FIFA World Cup, and we couldn’t be more excited about extending our legacy of record-breaking tournament broadcasts into the next decade. There is no greater sporting event in the world for our audience,” said David Downs, President, Univision Sports. “Our tournament coverage gives us the chance to proudly show our passion for the sport and demonstrate our commitment to providing a first-class production to the entire world. Just nine months from now, we will broadcast the 2006 FIFA World Cup live from Germany, and we expect record audiences.”

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter commented: “Univision came to us with a comprehensive package that will not only guarantee coverage of the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and 2014 and all other FIFA tournaments in the men’s and women’s games but also promote football and the FIFA brand even at those times when no tournaments are taking place. With this leading company we have ensured that images of our events will be seen by the widest possible audience across the USA’s steadily growing football market. I am extremely happy with this momentous deal. It is a major milestone in our new TV approach.”

The Univision Networks will televise all 64 matches of the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups live. The matches will be divided among the Univision Network, its sister broadcast network TeleFutura and Galavision.

Univision first televised the FIFA World Cup in 1978, and has televised every FIFA World Cup tournament since then.