The round-robin competition, featuring Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, will be held at the Vodafone Arena in Suva, Fiji, from August 8 to 14.
As in 2009, all matches will be broadcast free-to-air within Fiji while a one-hour highlights show will be sent out to OFC broadcast partners around the region for futsal fans to enjoy.
Fiji 2010 will also mark the first occasion when an OFC competition is streamed live online with access available through oceaniafootball.com and maitv.com.fj.
OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas says the agreement shows OFC’s ongoing commitment to deliver quality coverage throughout the region.
“Broadcast of the OFC Futsal Championship follows on from unprecedented FIFA World Cup coverage across the Pacific thanks to cooperation between OFC, MAI TV and SBS Australia,” says Nicholas.
“We are building on that relationship with Fiji-based MAI TV so that Oceania futsal fans can see more of their favourite players in action.”
A recent MAI TV survey, conducted as part of FIFA requirements, suggested record viewing numbers during the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Over 70 per cent of those surveyed reported having MAI TV in their homes, which CEO Richard Broadbridge believes is an impressive figure for a TV station in just its third year of operation.
Broadbridge says the company is continuing to expand with online streaming a key focus.
“We recognise the need to deliver content direct to consumers so we’ve developed the technology to do just that. Web streaming will be an essential part of our futsal coverage and we’re delighted to be working with OFC on this project,” he says.
“MAI TV will also replay every match in full during Fijian prime time throughout the week before producing a highlights package to send out to Pacific broadcasters. We trust that viewers enjoy this extended coverage as the fast-paced nature of futsal makes for great television.”
Further details of broadcast times and online streaming will be made available prior to the championship.