MTN has signed a deal to provide visual material from the 2006 FIFA World Cup games to mobile phones.
MTN said in a statement yesterday that it had signed an exclusive agreement with Infront Sports & Media, giving the mobile operator rights to provide video and picture material from matches to mobile phones during the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
The mobile footage will not be the same as the TV footage and special cameras will be used to capture appropriate mobile content, says Mvuso Mbebe, CEO, content enterprise, SABC.
The deal, which is exclusive for the territory of SA, covers all 64 matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup and also gives MTN access to the archive material from the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan. The licence is valid until October 2006.
MTN is also broadcast sponsor of the 2006 FIFA World Cup on SABC1 and 13 SABC radio stations.
"MTN customers will get the very best mobile 2006 FIFA World Cup content delivered near real-time directly to their cellphones using video, MMS and SMS," says Ashraff Paruk, GM of business strategy at MTN South Africa.
"The premium video service will be available at a once-off subscription charge of R10 but all other content, be it SMSes, MMSes, highlights and updates, will be free," notes Paruk.
"A new way of watching the event will also feature, where special cameras will go behind the scenes, to capture locker room and off-field action," Mbebe says.
"Cameras will follow particular players during all 64 games to capture the impact they have on the game."
The SABC will also set up a full studio at the event to host "Good Morning Germany", a daily updates and highlights show, says Mbebe.
Customers can activate a service via the MTNLoaded portal, WAP, USSD or interactive voice response to have content delivered to their cellphones.
"Soccer is the religion of sports-mad enthusiasts around the world. As staunch soccer supporters, MTN is delighted to extend the enjoyment of the beautiful game to our subscribers," says Paruk.
"About 5.6 billion Africans watched the FIFA World Cup 2002 and we hope to grow this number," says Bernice Samuels, GM, corporate affairs and marketing, MTN.
Oliver Seibert, an executive director of Infront, says the deal shows how the delivery of content is changing, reflecting a "revolution" in live entertainment.
"We are very pleased that we have been able to reach this groundbreaking agreement with MTN, one of an increasing number of mobile telephony agreements for 2006," says Seibert.
"We need to look beyond 2006 and hope to announce a partnership for the 2010 Soccer World Cup," adds Mbebe.
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