MUMBAI: Football's governing body Fifa will invite tenders for the European media rights of the 2010 World Cup on 20 December 2004.

The public tender comprises the media rights for TV and radio transmissions. The mobile broadcast rights will be tendered at a later stage, with the timelines yet to be defined.

The media rights packages have been structured to provide balanced opportunities for up to three rights holders within each territory in order to ensure both flexibility and options for the increasing number of competing broadcasters and media platforms.

The tender procedure will be overseen by Fifas marketing and TV division. Fifa has stated that the upcoming tender is a reflection of its policy of transparency, compliance with applicable competition law principles and its wish to give all interested parties the opportunity to bid for the media rights to an event of the global stature of the World Cup.

In 2002, a cumulative audience of 28.8 billion people watched the Fifa World Cup in Korea/Japan. For the next event in 2006, 30 billion people are expected to tune in over the four weeks of the World Cup.

The deadline for the submission of bids is 11 February 2005. Upon review of the submissions, Fifa will then draw up a confidential shortlist of bidders and expects to announce the appointments in May/June 2005.

Those parties interested in making a bid may obtain a copy of the Invitation to Tender document on www.FIFA.com. The Asian and Oceania tenders of the media rights of the 2010 World Cup have been postponed to a later date.