RTV will broadcast 2010 world Cup finals -Habineza

RWANDA Television will broadcast live the 2010 World Cup finals which will be held in South Africa from June 11- July 12, according to Sports and Culture Minister Joseph Habineza. Habineza told Times Sport early this week that all member states of the Africa Union are duty-bound to broadcast live all the World Cup matches. “The decision of awarding broadcasting rights to each nation was reached in a meeting with head of States, who comprise the African Union,” “African Union and World Cup organizers agreed to give affordable broadcasting rights to every nation such that its citizens could watch live all the matches,” Habineza said, adding that Rwanda Television will then get affordable rights to show live all matches. According to Habineza, the decision was also reached in a view that the 2010 World Cup should be an African event thus all Africa countries must in any way support South Africa in hosting a successful tournament. Getting a comment from the Ministry of Information was unsuccessful as the Director of Communication could not be reached by press-time. African Union of Broadcasters (AUB) is charged with handling of the over-the-air television and radio rights for the sub-Saharan region for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The agreement which was reached with Fifa will ensure the distribution and broadcasting of all 64 FIFA World Cup matches live on free-to-air television and radio in 41 territories in English, French and Portuguese. FIFA and the AUB will also establish an African production centre at the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) in Johannesburg during the 2010 event to ensure customised, high-quality coverage for the African viewers of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Ends