For the first time, a studio has been set aside for African broadcasters for the Soccer World Cup, located at the International Broadcast Centre (IBC).
Specifically, the Fifa-African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) partnership will have its own production centre at the IBC.
The partnership between the soccer governing body and the AUB has produced Legacy Week programmes - which aim to enhance broadcast quality in Africa - in more than 10 countries so far, according to Host Broadcast Services (HBS).
The Legacy Week programme, which began in 2009 and is focused on football coverage, will broadcast all 64 match feeds and two shows per match day - preview and daily highlights, according to Fifa TV.
The designated studio, dubbed “AUB Studios 2010” by Fifa, will be open to broadcasters for interviews or short shows based on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fifa TV says that theoretically, all broadcasters from the 41 territories in sub-Sahara covered by the AUB agreement will be able to use the studio simultaneously. “Fifa will produce one integrated African feed for everyone in sub-Sahara and there is no need for each broadcaster to come to the studio.”
Standard broadcast equipment, including cameras, editing mixers, audio mixers and vision controllers, will be made available for broadcasters at the studio.
Shows will be broadcast in English, French and Portuguese to all 41 territories.
Leaving a legacy
Fifa says Legacy Week is part of its “Win in Africa with Africa” initiative. It “aims to use its flagship competition to leave a lasting legacy on the whole African continent, both in the build-up to and in the wake of the 2010 World Cup”. It aims to create a sustainable programme of assistance for the broadcast community in Africa.
“Through the reinvestment of broadcast rights and revenues into the development and promotion of football in Africa, the focus is primarily on transferring knowledge and building capacity in a manner that is relevant to the respective country in the region.”
The goal is that by the end of the first phase, about 3 000 African TV and radio professionals will be trained in international broadcast standards, according to Fifa. A maximum of 100 participants can be accommodated per course, which lasts a week. The governing body says the rate will be one course per month.
“The curriculum is tailored to the current state of the industry in each respective country, but in essence encompasses three key modules.” Fifa adds that the modules are: television and radio journalism for football, television and radio production for football, and television and radio sports rights and marketing.
“No other medium has boosted the worldwide development of football more than television. It plays a vital role in spreading the message, creating anticipation, as well as ensuring interest among sponsors,” explains the governing body.
Professional help
The Legacy Week programme is open to eligible professionals from the 41 sub-Saharan territories covered by agreements with the AUB, according to Fifa. SA is not included in this list.
Both the HBS and the AUB deliver the Legacy Week programme. “HBS provides instructors, teaching materials and demonstration equipment for conducting skill-building courses in football production, such as the training of commentators, cameramen, videotape operators, directors and producers,” explains Fifa.
It adds that the AUB presents seminars, workshops, and conferences on topics such as news, educational broadcasting and television development of communications, satellite communications and training.
"Thanks to this strategic alliance with the AUB, we can truly make a difference and achieve a balance in world football by working together to develop successful professional football structures in Africa, which is one of our core visions and missions reaching far beyond 2010," says Fifa president Sepp Blatter.
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