From Jamaica Observer

SportsMax and Digicel announced recently that they have secured the broadcast rights for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, in 22 countries, through an agreement signed with DIRECTV .

Following the successful carriage of the FIFA World Cup in 2006, 2010 and 2014, as well as the upcoming exclusive coverage of the 2020 Summer Olympics, SportsMax and Digicel have acquired the English and Spanish language media rights for all 64 matches in the 2018 FIFA World Cup running from June 14 to July 15. The action from Russia will be broadcast throughout the region using a combination of free-to-air TV, broadband, pay TV, radio and, significantly, streaming via mobile.

In addition to the FIFA World Cup being broadcast via Digicel and free-to-air TV (in select countries) to reach the widest possible Caribbean audience. SportsMax will have a dedicated FIFA World Cup channel available online with over 700 hours of live programming and analysis, so that fans in the broadcast territories can enjoy the action in Russia on various platforms, whenever they want.

“It’s an exciting time for SportsMax as we countdown to the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Our partnership with DIRECTV has allowed us to take the game of football to the people who love it most, whether they are at home watching TV, in the car listening to the radio, or on the go with their smartphones and mobile devices via PlayGo. Broadcast rights vary in each of the countries, but altogether include free-to-air, broadband, play Tv, radio and mobile platforms — offering more people more options to support their team,” said Olly McIntosh, CEO of IMC and SportsMax.

In the weeks counting down to the games, SportsMax and Digicel will be unveiling special offers for customers to access the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The Digicel countries that will benefit and are included in the rights agreement are Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos. The SportsMax countries include the above-mentioned as well as The Bahamas, Belize, Dominican Republic and the US Virgin Islands.

SportsMax is the leader in the Caribbean for world-class sporting events, having acquired rights and previously brought to viewers the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup; 2009 and 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup; multiple FIFA Youth World Cups; Copa Americas; the London 2012 Summer Olympics and the upcoming 2020 Summer Olympics; as well as the Olympic Winter Games Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, and Pyeonchang 2018.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia will be the 21st staging of the event, slated for 12 venues and featuring 32 powerhouses in football including defending champions Germany and other tournament favourites Brazil, Spain, France, Argentina, Belgium and Portugal.

IMAGE: FIFA World Cup Trophy

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