...as, Africa Gets it For Free

Yesterday FIFA announced that African countries, except for the South African Republic, will be given the right to broadcast the 2002 World Cup finals on TV free of charge. This agreement was reached in 1996 with Swiss ISM company, which had the right of broadcasting World Cup matches. This company was declared bankrupt in 2001 and the German Kirch media group bought the broadcasting rights. FIFA press secretary Andreas Herren announced that this decision is aimed at the development of football in African countries including those who don't have appropriate infrastructures and are not able to pay for the broadcasting.