One World Sports gets rights to soccer's AFC Asian Qualifiers

MUMBAI: US sports broadcaster One World Sports (OWS), which showcases Asian sports for American viewers, has signed an agreement with World Sport Group (WSG) to distribute Asian soccer qualification matches for next year?s London 2012 games on a multi-media basis in North America.

OWS will present live and same-day coverage from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Qualifiers for both the men and women?s tournaments in English for select matches.

OWS COO Preston Bornman said, "The AFC Asian Qualifiers multi-platform rights are on strategy with the long-term commitment of One World Sports to deliver Asia?s best soccer events live to U.S. sports fans on any device. Exclusive coverage of the AFC Asian Qualifiers is a natural follow-up to the American response to the Women?s World Cup, and we expect the men and women?s Asian qualifying matches to generate great interest among US soccer and sports fans, particularly among the Asian population."

The acquisition of the AFC Asian Qualifiers follows the success of OWS? live and exclusive exhibition of the 32-game AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011 in the US and the ongoing 2011 AFC Champions League, the region?s premier club competition. The AFC Champions League and the AFC Asian Qualifiers as well as other top soccer events from Asia are on OWS, which is now available on Dish Network and local cable.

World Sport Group president Asean and Australia Mark Hardess said, "One World Sports is doing an outstanding job introducing the US to Asian soccer. World Sport Group is excited to expand our relationship with One World Sports to include the AFC Asian Qualifiers and to extend our partners? broadcast reach to U.S. fans.

Soccer fans in the United States can now follow the exciting year-long build-up to next year?s games in London."

The AFC Asian Qualifiers begin from 1 September 2011 with the Women?s Final Qualification Round featuring Fifa Women?s World Cup champions Japan and Thailand. The round also includes teams from Australia, Korea Republic, Democratic People?s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and China in matches being held on 3, 5 and 8 September.

The Men?s third round of the Asian Qualifiers begins on 21 September. This round comprises 12 of the region?s top teams including Japan, Australia, Korea, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The first day?s matches feature Australia and the United Arab Emirates, followed by Japan versus Malaysia.