MTV Channel Pvt Ltd secures FIFA World Cup Broadcast Rights

COLOMBO (News 1st) - MTV Channel (Pvt) Ltd, the network that owns and operates Sirasa TV, Shakthi TV, TV-1, News 1st and Stein Studios, has been appointed as the Official Television Rights Holders in Sri Lanka for the FIFA World Cup, which is expected to be the most-watched sporting event in world history.

The 64 matches in 29 days between 32 nations will air primarily LIVE on TV-1, the network’s islandwide sports and infotaiment channel, whilst also being selectively simulcast and re-aired on Shakthi TV and Sirasa TV. 

Viewers can tune in to TV-1 on the following UHF frequencies:

• Colombo 58

• Nuwara Eliya 59

• Nuwara Eliya Town 29

• Matale 53

• Kandy 51

• Deniyaya 53

• Ratnapura 54

• Jaffna 34

• Badulla 58

• Matugama 53

The dazzling opening ceremony is scheduled to commence at 8:00 p.m. Sri Lanka time on Sunday, 20th November, followed immediately by the first match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador at 9:30 p.m. 

Brazil are the favourites to win the cup, followed by defending champions France, Argentina, England, Spain and Germany. 

This is expected to be the final World Cup for several of the global stars of football including Lionel Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), and Luis Suarez (Uruguay).

The tournament has two stages – the group stage where teams compete within eight groups of four teams each from which the top two progress to the round of 16 which is a knockout phase. In the group stage, each team plays three matches, with 3 points for a win and one point for a draw.

There will be three matches on 21st November and four matches per day through 2nd December. The knockout stage will commence with the round of 16 from December 3-7. The quarter-finals will be from December 9-11; the semifinals on December 14 and 15; third place playoff on December 17; and the final on December 18.

The 32 nations earned the right to compete through qualifying tournaments held within the six FIFA continental federations. Thirteen teams are from Europe, 5 from Africa, 5 from Asia-Oceania, 5 from North and Central America and Caribbean, and 3 from South America. The host receives an automatic berth.

This will be the 22nd World Cup, which was first held in 1930. It will also be the last World Cup with 32 teams, with the next World Cup in 2026 expanding to 48 teams.

The trophy has been won by eight nations – Brazil five times; four times each by Germany and Italy; twice each by Argentina,  France, and Uruguay; and once each by England and Spain. 

The champion team will receive USD 42 million, with the runners-up getting USD 30 million. Other prize monies are USD 27 million for third place; USD 25 million for 4th place; USD 17 million for each team that enters the quarter-finals; USD 13 million for each of those that enter the round of 16; and USD 9 million for those in the 1st round. The FIFA World Cup Trophy is made of 18-carat gold, is 36 cm tall and weighs 6.175 kg. The base is made of semi-precious Malachite. The trophy is only temporarily given to the champion team before it is returned to FIFA.

Group A
Qatar
Ecuador
Senegal
Netherlands

Group B
England
Iran
United States
Wales

Group C
Argentina
Saudi Arabia
Mexico
Poland

Group D
France
Australia
Denmark
Tunisia

Group E
Spain
Costa Rica
Germany
Japan

Group F
Belgium
Canada
Morocco
Croatia

Group G
Brazil
Serbia
Switzerland
Cameroon

Group H
Portugal
Ghana
Uruguay
South Korea