In co-operation with the Dentsu Group in Japan, OFC has secured the rights for Oceania and will make the feed available to Fiji Television who will in turn distribute the footage across various Pacific Island nations. OFC has also done a deal with SKY Television in New Zealand to ensure coverage for Kiwi fans.
The first match will feature 2011 O-League champions Auckland City against newly-crowned J.League champions Kashiwa Reysol, with coverage set to begin at 11.30pm this Thursday (NZ Time).
OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas says there is likely to be a lot of interest after Auckland City’s previous showing at the Club World Cup.
“Many will remember the team’s heroic performances during the 2009 edition when they upset then hosts Al Ahli of UAE as well as the African champions TP Mazembe en route to an historic fifth-place finish,” Nicholas says.
The winner of the opening match will go on to face CONCACAF champions CF Monterrey of Mexico in the quarter-final match, which will be broadcast in New Zealand on SKY Sport 1 from 11.15pm on Sunday 11 December. Semi-final and final action will also be included as part of the coverage in New Zealand continuing through until December 18.
Meanwhile across the Pacific, Fiji Television will deliver free-to-air coverage in Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands with most games to be broadcast live and/or delayed. Countries that have the pay TV Sky Pacific platform, including Fiji, Tahiti, Cook Islands, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu, will be able to watch the matches live and delayed.
With OFC facilitating the broadcast agreements, Nicholas says the coverage is further evidence of OFC’s commitment to broadcasting world-class football across the region.
“It is a major coup for the confederation to secure the rights for FIFA’s top-flight competition. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Dentsu Group in Japan as well as SKY TV and Fiji TV for their cooperation in delivering this tournament to the fans.”
SKY Sport’s Director of Sports Content and New Media Richard Last says SKY is pleased to offer people a taste of the tournament, which also includes the likes of UEFA champions Barcelona and Pele’s former club Santos of Brazil.
“SKY Sport is committed to bringing football fans the best the sport has to offer from around the world, so we’re delighted to be able to broadcast live coverage of the FIFA Club World Cup in December.”
Fiji Television’s General Manager International Ken Clark says his company is also committed to giving more airtime to the global game.
“The ever-growing popularity of football across the Pacific is a dramatic incentive for solid broadcasters to provide what their audiences want to see. This coverage definitely falls into that category.”
FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2011
8 – 18 December
Broadcast Schedule [New Zealand]
Thursday 8 December
Game 1: Kashiwa Reysol v Auckland City FC
SKY Sport 1 – 11:30pm
Sunday 11 December
Game 2: Winner Game 1 v CF Monterrey
SKY Sport 1 – 11.15pm
Wednesday 14 December
Semi-Final 1 – Winner Game 2 v Santos
SKY Sport 1 – 11.15pm
Sunday 18 December
Grand Final
SKY Sport 3 – 11.30pm
For coverage in other countries on the Sky Pacific network, please check local listings.
For more on the tournament go to www.fifa.com/clubworldcup