Specialist football rights agency Kentaro has finalised the sponsorship programme for the latest leg of its Brazil World Tour concept, by concluding a Presenting Sponsorship package with Nike for its Nike (Red) Campaign.

Brazil will play the Republic of Ireland at the Emirates Stadium on March 2nd in a game to be broadcast live on ITV1 in the UK, on RTE in Ireland, Globo in Brazil and in over 100 countries worldwide. All worldwide sponsorship and television distribution agreements are handled by Kentaro.

Kentaro has brokered the deal for Nike to have broadcast sponsorship of the game on both ITV1 and RTE, as well as having a majority of the LED inventory and a range of other rights, including the use of a red ball and red goal nets. “Having concluded the deal with ITV1 and RTE, we are even more delighted to have Nike as the lead sponsor on the night,” said Jonathan Hill, COO of Kentaro.

The game on March 2nd will be the fifth Brazil World Tour game Kentaro has taken to the Emirates Stadium and further cements the strong working relationship between Kentaro and Arsenal FC.

Tom Fox, Chief Commercial Officer at Arsenal, commented: “Arsenal is delighted to once again be working with Kentaro in bringing another glamour international friendly match to the Emirates Stadium. We are also delighted that Kentaro has brought our existing partner Nike to this game, giving Arsenal further opportunity to be associated with the (Red) Campaign.”

Other Brazil World Tour sponsors for this match include Brazilian blue-chip companies ITAU Bank, Ambev and Embratel.

The innovative concept follows just weeks after Kentaro’s ground-breaking internet-only, broadcast exclusive of an England game.

Tickets are available here.

LONDON, Wednesday 13th January 2009: Two fitness freaks brave sub zero temperatures in London this morning to make use of unused gym equipment which is cited as the biggest source of household clutter by 25% of the British population.

A quarter of Brits are storing  unwanted gym equipment according to a new study from TV channel Home, which today created London’s own version of LA’s infamous Muscle Beach to promote its new de-cluttering TV series Gutted.

Gutted weeknights at 9pm on Home

LONDON, Tuesday 15th December 2009: Robbie Knievel has announced plans to stage a record attempt to jump 16 double-decker buses and beat his father’s failed attempt in 1975. The jump will take place on 22nd May, London 2010.

Following in his father’s famous tyre tracks, world-leading motorcycling daredevil Robbie Knievel is coming to London to stage a record attempt to jump an incredible 16 double-decker buses on a classic Harley Davidson XR-750.

The world’s foremost motorcycle thrill-seeker, now aged 47, will use the Harley Davidson XR- 750 – the same motorcycle model his father Evel Knievel used in his failed attempt at Wembley stadium in 1975.

On May 25th 1975, Robbie’s legendary father took to Wembley to jump over 13 buses and crashed in front of an audience of 90,000, breaking his pelvis, ending his thrilling career.

Robbie will attempt to clear a record-breaking 16 buses with a Harley-Davidson XR-750 – three more than Evel Knievel.

This death defying stunt, set to take place in London on 22nd May 2010, exactly 35 years after his father’s attempt, will place Robbie one step closer to completing all of his father’s daring attempts and silence the critics who have questioned Robbie’s use of the lighter CR-500 in the past.

The Honda high-performance motocross bike is designed for jumping and has been a preferred choice for Robbie in the majority of his stunts. His father Evel Knievel conversely made most of his record breaking jumps using a Harley, a massively heavier and less agile motorcycle. Robbie Knievel will now thrill us with the same model of Harley as he attempts the unthinkable for his London stunt.

Robbie has successfully completed over 350 professional jumps, including 20 world records, and completed every jump his father attempted with the exception of two stunts: the bus-jumping record set by Evel at Wembley Stadium in 1975 and the Snake River Canyon jump in 1974.

Robbie Knievel said, “Daredevils are a dying breed. I’m proud to have been raised by one and to be one myself. I’m looking forward to this and although my dad’s jump ended with broken bones and a lot of pain, I’m confident he’ll be smiling down on this one.”

Taylor Herring PR: 0208 206 5151

Robbie Knievel, the world famous dare-devil and son of iconic Evel Knievel will attend a press conference tomorrow to announce his most daring stunt yet.

Press Conference: 10.30am, Tuesday 15th December at The Hospital Club, 24 Endell Street, London WC2

The most famous daredevil alive Robbie has completed over 350 jumps, setting 20 world records. These include the Caesars Palace Fountain jump, a 30 Limo jump and most famously The Grand Canyon jump.

RSVP ESSENTIAL: Louisa Bradshaw, 0208 206 5151. louisa.bradshaw@taylorherring.com

Biog:

Robbie Knievel is the son of the late famous stuntman Evel Knievel and his first wife Linda. Robbie began jumping his bicycle at age 4 and rode motorcycles at age 7. At age 8 he performed his first show with his father at Madison Square Garden. By the age of 12 he was on tour with his father where he would perform wheelies.

Without question, the most famous daredevil alive Robbie has completed over 350 jumps, setting 20 world records. These include the Caesars Palace Fountain jump, the building to building jump, the 30 Limo jump and The Grand Canyon jump.

The Grand Canyon jump was one of Robbie Knievel’s most exciting and famous jumps on May 20, 1999. Robbie’s considering a future jump of the Snake River Canyon on the Snake River near Twin Falls, Idaho, a feat his father had failed at in 1974.

In 2003 Robbie had a spectacular jump at the Chinook Winds Casino where he cleared 15 Diet Pepsi Trucks. During the summer of 2005, Robbie had his own TV show on A&E called Knievel’s Wild Ride.

In 2006, Robbie partnered to open Knievel’s Custom Cycles, A custom motorcycle based in Hermitage PA. In late March 2006, Robbie Knievel jumped from one barge to another in Jacksonville, FL and in late July 2006, he made a tribute jump to his father at Evel Knievel Days in Butte, Montana by jumping four huge flame throwers.

On March 18, 2007, Robbie jumped an assortment of military vehicles at the North Carolina Auto Expo in Raleigh, North Carolina. Soon afterwards, he appeared in a nationally broadcast commercial for Holiday Inn Express.

On June 9, 2007, he appeared in Wilmington, Delaware and successfully jumped $4.8 billion in fake money representing the amount of interest paid to the customers of ING Direct.

In August 2007, he was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Sturgis, South Dakota and made a jump at the world famous Buffalo Chip campground.

Robbie successfully jumped over 24 Coca-Cola Zero trucks at The Kings Island Amusement Park outside Cincinnati, Ohio on May 24, 2008. 33 years earlier in 1975, his father Evel Knievel carved daredevil history by jumping over 14 Greyhound buses at Kings Island. Robbie Knievel, 46, landed almost 100 feet farther than Evel who was then 37.

Knievel successfully jumped on June 7, 2008 at the Texas Motor Speedway in Ft. Worth, Texas. He cleared 21 Hummers on the front stretch of the speedway. He originally was going to jump 25 Hummers. However, there was a strong sustained headwind of 30mph the evening of the jump.

Robbie jumped on July 3, 2008 at Six Flags St. Louis. He cleared 25 Dodge vehicles in front of a cheering crowd. The jump, marked the opening of the Evel Knievel roller coaster. The coaster was the brainchild of Robbie to honor his father.

While performing pre-jump wheelies at the LCO Casino near Hayward, Wisconsin on August 16, 2008, during sporadic rainstorms, Robbie crashed and slid into some hay bales, dislocating his shoulder. Despite his injury, he performed the jump clearing four airplanes and a helicopter.

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British broadcasting legend and all-round football expert John Motson takes us through his definitive list of World Cup Heroes And Villains. With England qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, John Motson’s World Cup Heroes and Villains is a must for all football fans and is available to own on Monday 23rd November courtesy of 4DVD.

World Cup fever is here, and with every fan counting down the days to the biggest sporting event in 2010, World Cup Heroes and Villains is the perfect way to get even more excited! The voice of football and legendary commentator, John Motson, guides us through a celebration of the greatest goals and golden moments, as well as all the traumas and tribulations that can torment a nation.

John Motson’s World Cup Heroes and Villains has nine exciting sections that will make us cry with tears of joy and despair: Greatest Goals,Red Mist, Red Cards and Referees , Close Encounters, Dodgy Defenders, Keeper Classics and Clangers, The Beautiful Game: Shocks and Surprises, Controversies and Conspiracies, World Cup Crazy and Heroes: the Beautiful Game: Fantastic Finals.

For more information or to request an interview please contact Taylor Herring PR on 0208 206 5151.

World Cup Qualifier Is Britain’s Biggest Ever Pay-to-View Internet Sports Broadcast

LONDON, Monday 12th October: Close to half a million football fans watched and earned their place in the history books, as last night’s FIFA World Cup qualifier became Britain’s biggest internet pay-to-view sports broadcast.

There were no technical issues and all customer enquiries were responded to within five minutes. A post match survey found that an average of 87% felt the picture quality was satisfactory or better and 93% were satisfied with the customer support. In a positive sign for future events, 87% said the match offered value for money and 89% would purchase another live sports event online.

In addition to the live stream, international football agency Kentaro struck an 11th hour highlights deal with the BBC, who screened the best moments of the match to viewers after the live internet game had been broadcast.

Odeon cinemas across the country also screened the game via satellite and many were completely sold out. Despite the match not being made available for public or commercial viewing purposes, it is believed pubs up and down the country streamed the match successfully via projectors and by linking computers to TV screens.

Earlier in the week, a special arrangement was made by Kentaro to screen the game to British Armed forces overseas for free. As many troops do not have internet access the game was broadcast into military bases via BFBS Television.

Philipp Grothe, CEO of Kentaro said; “This pioneering broadcast has been a great success. Not only have we delivered Britain’s largest ever live pay-to-view internet sports audience but commercially the venture has proved itself as a viable model for future games. Technology has ignited a revolution in people’s viewing habits and there is a new sports broadcast platform developing on the broadband enabled internet.”

Andrew Croker, Executive Chairman of Perform said: “This was an extremely successful and groundbreaking project. An innovative marketing approach particularly with national newspapers, betting and ISP affiliates meant that we were able to get this out to a broad audience and make it a huge success. Additionally, from a customer service, production and distribution point of view, we felt it went very smoothly.”

Peter Silverstone, Managing Director of Kentaro UK said; “We are indebted to our partner Perform, who have pulled off a technical coup in a few short weeks. Our newspaper, ISP and betting partners have been instrumental in making this venture the success that is. We have been encouraged by the level of debate this has stimulated amongst the sports industry.”

Fans watched the landmark match by registering at www.ukraineVengland.com. Subscriptions were available at an early-bird price of £4.99 rising to a maximum rate of £11.99 for purchases made on the day.

James Richardson presented the live coverage, alongside ex England manager and Notts County Director of Football Sven Goran Eriksson. Commentary came from David Pleat and Tony Jones.

A number of leading national newspapers and internet service providers also made the match available on their own websites. Partners included; The Sun, The Times, News of the World, The Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Express, The Daily Star, The Independent, Virgin Media and Orange. All websites offered a promotion where the user could watch the match for free if they opened an account with bet365.com, a leading online bookmaker.

The international football agency Kentaro, acquired the broadcast rights from the Ukrainian FA and had sold the game to Setanta in December 2007. However the pay-TV broadcaster went into administration over the summer leaving this key match without a UK broadcaster. With no offers on the table from UK free to air or pay-TV broadcasters Kentaro decided to seek the widest possible online audience, appointing digital sport specialist Perform, to market and stream the match online, on a pay-per-view basis.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to its commercial sensitivity and value no further information or data will be released.

ENDS

LONDON (UK), Monday 5th October 2009: Saturday’s Ukraine Vs England FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying game will make history as the first England international to be broadcast exclusively over the internet and in cinemas across the UK.

Fans will be able to watch the landmark match live from the Dnipro Arena in Ukraine by registering at www.ukraineVengland.com. Subscription will be available at an early-bird price of £4.99 up until end of play on Wednesday 7th October, increasing during the week to a maximum rate of £11.99 for purchases made on the day.

Pre-match coverage commences at 4.45pm on Saturday 10th October with a special programme charting the Three Lions impressive progress through the tournament to date, exclusive interviews with England players and analysis and insights from studio guests. James Richardson will present the live coverage, alongside ex England manager and Notts County Director of Football Sven Goran Eriksson. Commentary will come from David Pleat and Tony Jones.

A number of leading national newspapers and internet service providers will also make the match available on their own websites to ensure that fans will be able to cheer on the national team. Partners include The Sun, The Times, News of the World, The Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Express, The Daily Star, The Independent, Virgin Media and Orange who have a cumulative combined monthly user base online of over 20 million in the UK. When combined with Perform’s own online sports network of over 23 million monthly users, the promotion of the match will be the largest online campaign in UK history; one week after the Internet Advertising Bureau announced that spending on internet advertising in the first half of 2009 exceeded that on television for the first time.

The pricing of the match on all partner websites will be the same as on www.ukraineVengland.com and all websites will also offer a promotion where the user can watch the match for free if they open and fund an account with bet365.com, the leading online bookmaker, which already streams over 5,000 live sports events a year to their customers.

The international clash is the toughest competitive match that the national team will face before the World Cup in South Africa next year. England have won all eight of the qualifying games in this campaign – the best ever performance by The Three Lions, scoring 31 goals and conceding just 5 under Coach Fabio Capello. The England squad will be playing for their places in South Africa 2010. The game will also have a key bearing on England’s FIFA and UEFA seeding. For the Ukraine the game is key. They are unbeaten in four straight qualifiers, since losing 2-1 to a late John Terry goal at Wembley in April, and will be playing for their place in South Africa.

The international football agency Kentaro, acquired the broadcast rights from the Ukrainian FA and had sold the game to Setanta in December 2007. However the pay-TV broadcaster went into administration over the summer leaving this key match without a UK broadcaster. With no offers on the table from UK free to air or pay-TV broadcasters Kentaro decided to seek the widest possible online audience, appointing digital sport specialist Perform, to market and stream the match online, on a pay-per-view basis.

Andrew Croker, Executive Chairman of Perform said; “Millions of people around the world follow live sports online and this shows a real sign of the times – we’re extremely excited to be involved in this landmark event.”

Philipp Grothe, CEO of the Kentaro Group said; “Over 20 Million people in the UK regularly use the internet to watch sport. The mainstream adoption of broadband and the growing popularity of online viewing – is now a realistic alternative to old-fashioned TV broadcasting.”

Kentaro have also struck a deal with Arts Alliance Media to screen the game in key cinemas across the country. The deal will include the Odeon Group.

Peter Silverstone, MD of Kentaro UK said; “To support the internet broadcast we will stage big screen events for fans around the country and our partnership with Arts Alliance Media will give thousands of cinema goers the chance to enjoy the key game, en masse.”

Press Contact: Taylor Herring PR - 0208 206 5151

About Online Broadcasting

• Across the Wimbledon 2009 fortnight, the BBC Sport website received a total of 19.3 million requests for Wimbledon audio-visual content (live and on-demand) of which 16.2 million was to live coverage – three-and-a-half times more than for live streams across the 2008 tournament. (Source: BBC Press Office)
• 80.1% of the total U.K. internet audience viewed online video last year (Source: Comscore)
• 92% of people in the UK have a broadband speed of over 2MB. (Source: Internet Advertising Bureau, September 2009)
• Web users made 45m requests to watch TV programmes on the BBC iPlayer in July, 2009 (Source: BBC)
• UK online video viewing approached 5 Billion views in April 2009, up 47 Percent compared to 2008 (Source: Comscore)
• The UK has become the first major economy where advertisers spend more on internet advertising than on television advertising, with a record £1.75bn online spend in the first six months of the year. (Source: Internet Advertising Bureau, September 2009)

About Kentaro: Specialising in the global marketing of national soccer federations, leagues and clubs, Kentaro´s core business is the international acquisition and distribution of premium broadcast rights. Kentaro markets the TV rights for over 250 matches in the build-up to the FIFA World Cup 2010, including 90% of the South American qualifiers. More than 20 federations rely on Kentaro’s unique network and management skills, as do countless top club sides such as Arsenal FC, Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC. Headquartered in Switzerland with branch offices in London, Hamburg, Stockholm and most recently Chicago, the world’s fastest-growing sports rights agency also exclusively organizes all exhibition matches of the Brazil national team.

About Perform: Perform is a leading digital sport business who currently stream over 15,000 live events each year across the internet and provide web, mobile or online video services to 13 official Barclays Premier League and 67 official Coca-Cola Football League club websites. Perform is a world leader in delivering sports content in digital media. The company works with sports rights holders, publishers, bookmakers and media groups and has developed over 230 web, video broadband and mobile sites that serve over 20 million unique users. Perform also works with every major UK publisher group including News International, Trinity Mirror Group, Daily Mail Media Group, Telegraph Media Group and Guardian News and Media Ltd to provide extensive sports video highlights online through the e-Player, reaching over 10 million unique viewers every month. Football clients include Chelsea FC (who recently won the SportsBusiness Ultimate Sports Website Award), the Premier League, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham, Fulham, Rangers and through Football League Interactive, Perform provide the platform for over 80 clubs. Headquartered in Middlesex London, Perform employs 310 staff and has offices in central London, Holland, Italy, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, India and the USA. In November and December 2008, Perform stepped in when traditional TV deals did not materialise for UEFA Cup away matches featuring Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, streaming them live on a pay-per-view basis through www.mcfc.co.uk and www.tottenhamhotspur.com.

About James Richardson: James Richardson is famed for his 10-year-role as presenter and anchor of Football Italia. As well as this he appeared frequently alongside Des Lynam as co-presenter of The Friday Football Show and Football Matters on Setanta Sports. He is now the Italian football correspondent for leading publication FourFourTwo.

About Sven-Göran Eriksson: Former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson is famed for single-handedly raising England’s FIFA World ranking from 17th place to 4th place. The Swedish legend began his career as a low-league defender before becoming a successful manager in the late 1970’s and was named as England’s first foreign manager in 2002 following the resignation of Kevin Keegan. Eriksson spearheaded the international team’s assault on two World Cup tournaments and led them to the quarter finals of Euro 2004. He stepped down from his international post in 2006 before spending a year as manager of Manchester City where he achieved the club’s highest ever Premier League points total. Earlier this year Eriksson was confirmed as Director of Football at Notts County..

About Tony Jones: Tony Jones is an award winning sports reporter and football commentator who has contributed to international and domestic games on ITV, Channel 4, Channel Five and Sky Sports. He has covered broadcasts of crucial tournaments including the FA Cup, UEFA Cup, 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008 as well as live coverage of Serie A in Football Italia. With over 25 years experience in network commentary, Tony Jones is a football veteran with an unrivalled insight that earned him a Royal Television Society award for journalism.

About David Pleat: David Pleat is best known for his roles as manager and Director of Football at North London club Tottenham Hotspur. His management credentials also include stints at Leicester City, Luton Town and Sheffield Wednesday before he settled at Nottingham Forest as a football consultant in 2006. Pleat has since forged a successful career in football commentary and writes regular sports columns for The Guardian and Daily Mail.

Sven-Göran Eriksson and representatives from international football agency Kentaro will attend a press conference at 9.30am Monday 5th October at Soho Hotel (London) to reveal ground-breaking broadcast plans for Saturday’s England Vs Ukraine FIFA World Cup clash. Soho Hotel, 4 Richmond Mews, London W1.

RSVP cheryl.goddard@taylorherring.com, 0208 206 5151

4pm, Friday 11th September 2009. Taylor Herring clients’ Kentaro and Perform are working on a landmark online content deal to broadcast a key world Cup game exclusively over the internet. Taylor Herring were appointed by the international football agency Kentaro and online content specialist Perform earlier this week.

Here’s the latest….

Credit: James Robinson, The Guardian

The England football team’s next World Cup qualifying game against the Ukraine could be streamed live on national newspapers’ websites on a pay-per-view basis, with a potential audience of more than 20 million internet users – the first time a match of such magnitude has been broadcast exclusively over the internet.

Kentaro, the sports rights company, which owns the rights to England’s away qualifier in the Ukraine on 10 October, is understood to have held talks with all UK national newspaper publishers except the Financial Times about the landmark online content deal.

Under the proposal put forward by Kentaro and Perform, which specialises in making sports and entertainment content available online, newspaper websites would be able to stream the live coverage free of charge. They would also receive a share of the revenue generated from the event.

Talks with newspaper groups are well advanced and a deal is likely to be announced next week. The rights holder is understood to have talked to Sun and Sunday Times publisher News International, Daily Mail & General Trust, Telegraph Media Group, Mirror Group Newspapers, Express Newspapers, Independent News & Media, and Guardian News & Media, which publishes MediaGuardian.co.uk.

Kentaro and Perform are aiming to build a “coalition” of websites to screen the game, which would also be available on specialist sports websites.

Simon Denyer, chief executive of Perform, pointed out that the biggest UK newspaper websites have a combined audience of around 24 million users. Specialist sports websites that may stream the match reach a further 20 million users and Kentaro is also in talks with a leading cinema chain about screening the game in theatres across the country.

Perform already supplies highlights packages of several sports, including cricket and football, to newspaper websites on behalf of its clients, who include the Football League and Cricket Australia.

The rights to the Ukraine game reverted to Kentaro when the previous owner, pay-TV broadcaster Setanta’s UK business, went into administration in June. Kentaro acquired the rights from the Ukranian FA.

Kentaro has had no offers from UK free to air or pay-TV broadcasters and has decided to seek the widest possible online audience.

“The strategy is to have around 10 big publishers with [sites] which have between 2 and 5 million unique users in the UK,” Denyer said.

He added that the game is being offered on a pay-per-view basis, partly because the company does not believe it is commercially viable to make it available free of charge online and generate a profit by selling advertising around the event.

Peter Silverstone, managing director of Kentaro UK, said that the highlights of the game could still be made available to TV companies even if a series of online deals are signed.

The Ukraine game is less significant that it might have been because England qualified for next year’s World Cup in South Africa on Wednesday night, when they beat Croatia 5-1 with two qualifying games to spare.

It is not clear how much viewers will be charged and the company will not comment on the pricing model. The experiment will be closely watched by industry observers, however, since newspapers rarely charge for online content.

There is currently an industry-wide debate about how much, if anything, readers might be prepared to pay for content on newspapers websites. Rupert Murdoch, the News Corporation chairman and chief executive, said last month that the group’s newspapers, including UK subsidiary News International’s Sun, Times, News of the World and Sunday Times, are examining how best to generate revenue from their online offerings.

If a deal is done and viewing figures for the Ukraine game are reasonable, it might demonstrate that there is an audience willing to pay for premium content online.

If so, the experiment is likely to be repeated in the future, according to Siverstone. “There is potentially the appetite to do this going forward,” he said.

He added that Germany, France and the Scandinavian countries also have big enough broadband networks to make screening games online a realistic possibility.

Press Enquiries to james@taylorherring.com

LONDON: Sunday 6th September 2009. Following the collapse of Setanta UK earlier this year, plans are now being made to broadcast the Ukraine Vs England Fifa World Cup 2010 qualifying game, exclusively live on the internet.

International football agency Kentaro had sold the broadcast rights of the fixture to the Pay TV operator in December 2007. However Setanta went into administration on June 23rd this year leaving the key match without a UK broadcaster.

The Kiev clash scheduled for Saturday 10th October could decide England’s qualification for the tournament and marks one of the toughest competitive matches that the national team will have faced to date. England have won all seven of the qualifying games in this world cup campaign – the best ever performance by The Three Lions, scoring 26 goals and conceding just 4 under Coach Fabio Capello.

Philipp Grothe, CEO of the Kentaro Group said; “We have spoken to every traditional UK broadcaster and currently have no offer on the table. We therefore feel the internet delivers the most viable option to deliver an important England game directly to the fans. It will be the first time in history that an England game has had an exclusive web broadcast.”

Kentaro have now instructed digital sport specialist Perform, to market and stream the match online, on a pay-per-view basis.

Andrew Croker, Executive Chairman of Perform said; “We have pioneered sports coverage on the internet for the last ten years and currently have 20 million football fans using our online services every month. We’re very excited about working with Kentaro to deliver this landmark event.”

Perform is a leading digital sport business who currently stream over 15,000 live events each year across the internet and provide web, mobile or online video services to 13 official Barclays Premier League and 67 official Coca-Cola Football League club websites.

In November and December 2008, Perform stepped in when traditional TV deals did not materialise for UEFA Cup away matches featuring Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, streaming them live on a pay-per-view basis through www.mcfc.co.uk and www.tottenhamhotspur.com.

Notes To Editors

The broadcasting rights to the game were sold to Kentaro by the Ukraine Football Association. The English Football Association has no say over who secures broadcasting rights to away fixtures.

Kentaro: Specialising in the global marketing of national soccer federations, leagues and clubs, Kentaro´s core business is the international acquisition and distribution of premium broadcast rights. Kentaro markets the TV rights for over 250 matches in the build-up to the FIFA World Cup 2010, including 90% of the South American qualifiers. More than 20 federations rely on Kentaro’s unique network and management skills, as do countless top club sides such as Arsenal FC, Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC. Headquartered in Switzerland with branch offices in London, Hamburg, Stockholm and most recently Chicago, the world’s fastest-growing sports rights agency also exclusively organizes all exhibition matches of the Brazil national team.

Perform: Perform is a world leader in delivering sports content in digital media. The company works with sports rights holders, publishers, bookmakers and media groups and has developed over 230 web, video broadband and mobile sites that serve over 20 million unique users. Streaming 15,000 live events per year across partner sites, Perform also works with every major UK publisher group including News International, Trinity Mirror Group, Daily Mail Media Group, Telegraph Media Group and Guardian News and Media Ltd to provide extensive sports video highlights online through the e-Player, reaching over 10 million unique viewers every month. Football clients include Chelsea FC (who recently won the SportsBusiness Ultimate Sports Website Award), the Premier League, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham, Fulham, Rangers and through Football League Interactive, Perform provide the platform for over 80 clubs. Headquartered in Middlesex London, Perform employs 310 staff and has offices in central London, Holland, Italy, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, India and the USA.

www.performgroup.com