FIFA to earn 2.7 Bil dlrs from World Cup TV rights

World football’s governing body FIFA will earn 25 billion rands (2.7 billion dollars, 2.1 billion euros) on television rights to broadcast the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the organisation said on Monday.

The announcement was made by FIFA TV director Niclas Ericson (EDS: correct) during a press conference in Johannesburg, according to the SAPA news agency.

FIFA will also broadcast the games to hundreds of millions of cell phones worldwide, and has entered special agreements with African TV networks across the continent, he added.

“We have entered an agreement with the African Union of Broadcasters to place the TV rights in 41 sub-Saharan countries before the end of 2009,” Ericson said.

“The dream would be for an African team to reach the final, which would boost TV viewership,” said Ericson.

FIFA will spend 1.5 billion rand on their TV production of the world’s biggest sporting tournament – with over 26 billion worldwide spectators.

It will be the first time that the World Cup is held in Africa.