State-owned China Central Television (CCTV) has bought the exclusive rights to broadcast the 2002 and 2006 football World Cups to the country's hundreds of millions of viewers, reports said Saturday.
CCTV bought the rights from German company Kirch, who has the global rights, according to Ma Guoli, director of CCTV's sports department.
Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post said CCTV was expected to pay between 12 and 15 million dollars for the rights.
This year's World Cup is expected to attract unprecedented attention in China since it is the first time China's national team has made it to the finals of the sporting event.
China has an estimated 80 million football fans, and at least 60,000 are expected to make their way to South Korea where the national team will play.
(China Daily March 16, 2002)
