By David Gold
December 27 - The tender process for media rights in most European countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, being held in Russia and Qatar respectively, has been started by FIFA.
The rights – including television, IPTV, internet, mobile and radio transmissions – will be awarded to media organisations across 46 countries, including Germany, Netherlands and Italy, but the likes of France, Spain and the United Kingdom are not part of the current process.
"This tender is designed to help FIFA identify and select the media entity in each territory that is able to operationally secure the transmission commitments required by FIFA, as well as achieve [the] overall objectives of reaching the widest possible audience and financial targets," said FIFA's director of television, Niclas Ericson.
Submissions by media companies must have reached FIFA by February 3, and negotiations with preferred bidders open three days later.
More information on broadcast coverage of the last World Cup in South Africa last year is available on FIFA's website.
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