German pay-TV group, Kirch Media, is in discussions with the BBC and ITV to sell the broadcasting rights to the 2002 and 2006 World Cup competitions.
Kirch owns the global broadcasting rights to the next two World Cup tournaments and will sell on these on a regiona by region basis. It has already reached an agreement that will allow ARD and ZDF, public services broadcasters in Germany, to broadcast the competitions. It is now understood that negotiations are underway between the BBC and ITV in the UK and a number of broadcasters in France and Italy.
Kirch says that it has sold the rights to the 2002 World Cup in 18 territories. Its recent acquisition of the non-European rights has allowed it to sell the competition in Korea, Japan and most Asian countries, as well as in South America and Africa.
Press reports today suggest that Kirch has also sold the Latin American TV rights for the two tournaments for $860 million. TV Globo is understood to be buying the Brazilian rights, whilst DirectTV takes the rights for Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela.
The negotiations in the UK, France and Italy have been hampered to some degree by costs, which broadcasters claim are too high, according to analysts.
Separately, Kirch Media has today reported a 15% rise in turnover to DM3.2 million (£1.0 million) and a 42% increase in EBITDA to DM514 million.
