Press Releases

MTN to bring World Cup football matches to viewers across Africa

The MTN Group, in association with Leading Independent Media (LiM), is proud to announce that it will be bringing viewers across the continent live broadcasts of all the 2006 FIFA World Cup matches.

From 9 June until 9 July 2006, MTN will bring 64 World Cup football matches to viewers across Sub-Saharan Africa through LiM, which has over 40 national broadcasters or broadcast partners receiving and pushing programming terrestrially to a potential audience of over 250 million viewers throughout the continent.

From the opening match to the battles that ensue between the participating teams MTN and LiM will expose viewers to global football wizardry, talent and exhilarating entertainment.

Says Santie Botha, Executive Director, MTN Group: “As a multinational telecommunications company, MTN is delighted to be associated with the 2006 FIFA World Cup. We recognise its global appeal and are proud to bring everyone across Africa the best international football there is.”

This broadcast sponsorship is yet another affirmation of MTN’s commitment to football on the continent. MTN is also the proud title sponsor of the MTN Africa Cup of Nations, as well as the MTN CAF Champions League, which is widely recognised as the most prestigious club competition on the continent.

The MTN Group also launched its pan-African football website, MTNfootball.com, in October last year and says it is pleased with the overwhelming response to this site following the success of the MTN Africa Cup of Nations, which was held in Egypt in January to February this year.

An innovative and first-ever pan-African football website, MTNfootball.com delivers a one-stop shop to fans and the media for the latest information, news and comment on the current developments on the continent’s most popular sport. The site will offer comprehensive web-based coverage of the FIFA World Cup matches, including extensive behind-the-scenes action from Africa’s five World Cup hopefuls, in-depth profiles of all the players and coaches, as well as live play-by-play of all the African teams’ matches including action images.

Says Botha: ““MTNfootball.com is facilitating access to up-to-date football news for fans across the continent. This innovative solution is further proof of MTN’s deep commitment to the development of African football and to ensuring the success of our football sponsorships. In the information age it is essential that global football tournaments enjoy as wide a coverage as possible and that football fans around the world have access to the latest news and views around these events. MTNfootball.com adds significant value to these tournaments.”

The MTN Group wishes all the participating teams well in the 2006 FIFA World Cup tournament.