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NBCUniversal's Telemundo and NBC UNIVERSO Unveil 2015 Plans for FIFA Soccer Events
[March 24, 2015]

NBCUniversal's Telemundo and NBC UNIVERSO Unveil 2015 Plans for FIFA Soccer Events


NBCUniversal's Telemundo and NBC UNIVERSO, the official broadcaster for Spanish-language of the FIFA World Cup™ in the U.S. across all video platforms, announced details of their plans to telecast four 2015 FIFA Soccer Events. Both networks will deliver to sports fans throughout the U.S. an unprecedented 560 hours of soccer action in 2015. The extensive coverage will include 344 hours of online and mobile live-streams making it the first time that all the matches of four FIFA Soccer Events are made available in Spanish to a nationwide audience. In addition, coverage and editorial emphasis will be placed on storytelling around the development of the future soccer star players as they captivate audiences around the world on their way to the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ and the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™.

Between May and October of this year, Telemundo and NBC UNIVERSO will feature comprehensive FIFA coverage and showcase exclusive content including country and player profiles, behind-the-scenes footage from each venue, pre-match analyses, every play-by-play call and much more. Fans will be able to access every entertaining and action-filled moment on all their devices across multiple platforms including live telecasts, live streams, VOD, Facebook (News - Alert), Instagram and Twitter.

"We are proud to be the first media company to offer such a comprehensive coverage of FIFA World Cup™ events in the United States in Spanish," said Joe Uva, Chairman, Hispanic Enterprises and Content, NBCUniversal. "Starting in May, we will leverage all of our linear and digital platforms to bring to U.S. Hispanics the best soccer in the world presented by an experienced team of talent and professionals with a deep understanding of sports broadcasting and storytelling."

The first FIFA tournament will feature the Men's U-20 national teams, hosted by New Zealand from May 30 to June 20. Telemundo and NBC UNIVERSO will stream live all 52 matches. In addition, Telemundo will air live 10 matches including all competition involving the Mexican National Team, two Round 16 matches, two Quarter Final matches, one Semifinal and the Championship Final. The NBC UNIVERSO telecasts will include 21 live matches, including the FIFA U-20 World Cup Opening Match, all USA National Team group stage matches, two Mexican National Team simulcasts, four Round 16 matches, two Quarterfinal matches and one Semifinal match. NBC UNIVERSO will also air an encore presentation of the Championship Final.

One week following the start of the FIFA U-20 World Cup tournament, the FIFA Women's World Cup™ will kick off in Canada with matches taking place June 6 through July 5. Again, Telemundo and NBC UNIVERSO will stream live all 52 matches. Telemundo also will air 10 women's matches including the opening game of the tournament, every competition featuring the Mexican National Team, three Round-of-16 matches, one Quarterfinal match and the Championship Final. NBC UNIVERSO will feature 21 live matches, including all SA National Team group stage matches as well as a simulcast of Team USA competition, if it advances to the later rounds; four Round-of-16 matches, two Quarterfinal matches and two Semifinal matches. NBC UNIVERSO will also re-air both the opening and Championship Final matches.



Four days after the FIFA Women's World Cup™ champion is decided, the Men's FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup hosted by Portugal will take place July 9 to July 19. It will be followed by the final FIFA World Cup competition of 2015 featuring U-17 national teams, which will take the pitch in Chile from October 17 to November 8. Many of these future soccer superstars will have the opportunity to represent their country and display their skills on the world stage. Additional programming details for these the U-17 and Beach tournaments will be forthcoming.

"Telemundo will take the 2015 FIFA soccer events coverage to an unprecedented level," said Luis Silberwasser, President of Telemundo Network. "We will broadcast more Women's and U-20 matches than any other broadcast network in the history of Spanish-language TV, including the final match for the Women's World Cup, which will return to Spanish-language network TV after eight years. Ultimately, our viewers will enjoy the best soccer in the world with the high quality and expert commentary they have come to expect from us."


"Soccer has a unique and passionate relationship with Latino sports fans, and as a Spanish-language cable TV home for world-class soccer all summer long, NBC UNIVERSO will immerse our viewers in all of the excitement, drama and heart-pounding action around the 'beautiful game," said Rubén Mendiola, President, NBC UNIVERSO. "We continue to evolve as a leading sports and entertainment destination across multiple platforms by delivering the biggest moments, best events and remarkable storytelling that resonate with Hispanics throughout the U.S., as well as connects with our diverse Latin culture."

Digital content development and programming will be at the forefront of Telemundo and NBC UNIVERSO's 2015 FIFA World Cup competitions coverage. For the first time in the history of Spanish-language TV, all matches of four FIFA World Cup Events will be online and mobile live-streamed for a total of 344 hours. This will also be the first-time that online exclusive content will be produced on-site during the four tournaments. Content will cover both real-time tournament specific data and analysis appealing to the hardcore fan and general interest reports, including color stories, profiles, photo galleries and exclusive interviews and videos.

Award-winner and internationally acclaimed sportscaster Andrés Cantor will bring his unique style and soccer expertise to the broadcast booth for both Telemundo and NBC UNIVERSO during the 2015 FIFA World Cup competitions. Cantor, who has made the call during every FIFA World Cup since 1990, will lead a talent roster of sports broadcasters including Emmy-award winner Sammy Sadovnik; and former Mexican soccer players Carlos Hermosillo and Manuel Sol. The broadcast team will deliver a distinctive blend of knowledge, grace and passion that are synonymous with "The Beautiful Game." Cantor is the only US-based and Spanish-speaking announcer included in FIFA's Magazine list of the world's top legendary soccer commentators.

About Telemundo:

Telemundo, a division of NBCUniversal Hispanic Enterprises and Content, is a world-class media company, leading the industry in the production and distribution of high-quality Spanish-language content across its multiplatform portfolio to U.S. Hispanics and audiences around the world. Telemundo's multiple platforms include the Telemundo Network, a Spanish-language television network featuring original productions, theatrical motion pictures, news and first-class sports events, reaching U.S. Hispanic viewers in 210 markets through its 17 owned stations, broadcast and MVPD affiliates; Telemundo Digital Media, which distributes Telemundo's original content across digital and emerging platforms including mobile devices and www.telemundo.com; an owned and operated full power station in Puerto Rico that reaches 99% of all TV households in that DMA; and Telemundo Internacional, the international distribution arm which has positioned Telemundo as the second largest provider of Spanish-language content worldwide by syndicating content to more than 100 countries in over 35 languages.

About NBC UNIVERSO:

NBC UNIVERSO is a modern general entertainment cable channel for Latinos, bringing the world's top sports franchises and edgy, emotional programming to more than 40 million households in the U.S. As one of the most widely available modern cable channels for U.S. Latinos, NBC UNIVERSO delivers a thrilling mix of exclusive sports action - including FIFA World Cup™, NASCAR Mexico Series, NFL, Premier League and the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio - along with signature series, blockbuster movies, music, must-see live events and strategic acquisitions, on TV, online and mobile devices. NBC UNIVERSO is part of Hispanic Enterprises and Content, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast (News - Alert) Corporation. For more information, please visit www.NBCUNIVERSO.com.


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