NetRange to Broadcast European World Cup Qualifiers on Smart TV

HAMBURG, Germany, Oct. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Exclusive global exploitation rights secured for Smart TV - 140 matches live, on-demand and highlights

Global Smart TV provider NetRange, in cooperation with sports rights agency Sportfive, has secured the exclusive global rights to broadcast qualifying matches for the 2014 football World Cup live on Smart TV. Effective immediately, over 140 meetings between the European national teams will be broadcast via the "Qualifiers 2014" app. All matches will subsequently be available on-demand. In total, fifty percent of European qualifying matches will be broadcast via Smart TV.

These include matches involving Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales, as well as those involving the current European and World Champions, Spain.

The "Qualifiers 2014" app is available on the Smart TV portals from the manufacturers Loewe, Sharp, Thomson and Ikea, as well as on all other connected TV devices equipped with NetRange portals.

"By offering this completely new form of football broadcasting, we are breaking new ground in the exploitation of media and sports rights, and may even be making television history" comments Jan Wendt, managing director of NetRange. "We are delighted to be able to offer users of our Smart TV portals world class sport with the highest image quality - live and on-demand."

About NetRange:

NetRange is a global provider of brand-independent Smart TV portal solutions. NetRange is operating integrated, worldwide, full-service Smart TV portals for major clients such as Sharp, Ikea, Loewe, Vestel or HD+ / SES Astra. At the same time, NetRange is one of the most successful service providers in the development of Smart TV applications and services worldwide.

For media enquiries please contact:
NetRange MMH GmbH
Margit Lehmann
Haus am Hafen - Steinhoft 5-7
20459 Hamburg
+49-(0)40-280 953-0 
+49-(0)40-280 953-11
+49-(0)171-214-43-47
margit.lehmann@netrange.com
http://www.netrange.com