Indiantelevision.com Team

(21 May 2007 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Bertelsmann AG has acquired the official publishing license for the soccer event Uefa Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland.

The media company signed an agreement with the Union of European Football Associations (Uefa) and Warner Bros as the licensing agent.

In all, five Bertelsmann AG companies will participate in the license agreement: Medienfabrik, MohnMedia Kalenderverlag, Verlagsgruppe Random House, Wissen Media Verlag and the wissen.de online portal. The exclusive publishing license was acquired for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxemburg.

The project will further deepen Bertelsmann’s expertise in sports event publishing. For the Fifa World Cup 2006 in Germany, Bertelsmann had developed 150 official products under a similar license agreement, the largest publishing programme ever to accompany a sports event. The licensing cooperation resulted in further license agreements, including with the German Soccer Association (DFB).

Medienfabrik MD Stefan Postler says, “After last year’s very successful soccer licensing project, we are particularly delighted about the upcoming European Football Championship. As UEFA’s licensee, we are privy to exclusive content and exclusive distribution options. We also look forward to working with the Euro 2008 sponsors to service their communication needs. Our media will bring the UEFA Euro 2008 to the people and put them right in the middle of the football action.”

Uefa marketing and media management COO Philippe Margraff says, “We are delighted to welcome Bertelsmann, working with the leading publications and media group in Europe will ensure the most comprehensive publications programme ever for the European Football Championship.”