Now TV will live broadcast all 64 matches ViuTV will broadcast 19 selected matches at TV prime time
PCCW (SEHK:0008) – HONG KONG, November 30, 2017 – PCCW announces that Now TV and ViuTV will exclusively broadcast the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ in Hong Kong.
The FIFA World Cup™ is the biggest single-event sporting competition and the most widely viewed sporting event in the world. It is held every four years and FIFA has hosted 20 tournaments to date.
Russia is the host country of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™. The opening match will be played on June 14, 2018, followed by group matches, round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, the 3rd place match, and the final on July 15.
Now TV will be exclusively broadcasting all 64 matches live, while ViuTV will broadcast 19 selected matches live, including the opening match, the two semi-finals and the final. Now TV will live broadcast the draw ceremony for the final stages to be held in Moscow on December 1 at 10:55 p.m. (HK time) via Now Sports 2 (Ch 632), while ViuTV will live broadcast the ceremony on ViuTVsix (Ch 96) at 11 p.m. (HK time).
Ms. Janice Lee, Managing Director of PCCW Media Group, said, “PCCW Media is pleased to bring the exclusive Hong Kong broadcast rights of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ to viewers in Hong Kong. With our extensive experience in producing and broadcasting large-scale international and local sporting events, including LaLiga, Premier League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA EURO 2016, Now TV aims to offer viewers superb World Cup enjoyment, whether on a live or on-demand basis, on our TV, Internet and mobile platforms. And with ViuTV’s local production strength and creativity, we aim to add more excitement and entertainment to this mega event for the enjoyment of viewers in Hong Kong.”
Mr. Lo Ting-fai, General Manager of HK Television Entertainment Company Limited, said, “ViuTV is very excited to bring this world-class sports event to the wider audience of Hong Kong. As most of the matches will be held after dusk in Hong Kong, all family members can enjoy all the FIFA World Cup™ excitement during the prime time television viewing hours, whether they are at home or out-of-home. ViuTV will produce a series of exciting lead-in and supporting programs to enhance the FIFA World Cup™ viewing experience and to cater to the interests of the diverse audience as the FIFA World Cup™ is an event that is enjoyed by viewers of all ages.”
Mr. Philippe Le Floc’h, FIFA’s Chief Commercial Officer, said, “We are very pleased to be working with such a strong broadcast partner to share the passion of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ with Hong Kong’s huge football fan base.”
Ms. Janice Lee, Managing Director of PCCW Media Group, and Mr. Lo Ting-fai, General Manager of HK Television Entertainment, announce that Now TV and ViuTV will exclusively broadcast the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ in Hong Kong.
About Now TV
Now TV is one of the world’s largest commercial deployments of IPTV and Hong Kong’s largest pay-TV provider. It is delivered by PCCW Media Limited, the multimedia and entertainment subsidiary of PCCW Limited. PCCW also holds interests in telecommunications, IT solutions, property development and investment, and other businesses.
Now TV offers the widest range of local and international content on its platform in Hong Kong. Its quality self-produced content includes two news channels and a diverse line up of sports and entertainment programmes. This is complemented by leading Asian and international content and brands across news, sports, movie, drama, entertainment, information and kids genres.
Now TV’s premium content can be accessed through linear TV channels, on-demand and via OTT (over-the-top) companion apps. Now TV can also be enjoyed on the eye devices provided by HKT, the telecommunications business of PCCW.
To learn more about Now TV, please visit http://nowtv.now.com/.
About ViuTV
Dedicated to bring Hong Kong audiences a huge variety of television entertainment, HK Television Entertainment Company Limited operates two free-to-air channels – ViuTV (Channel 99), the Chinese-language channel, and ViuTVsix (Channel 96), the English-language channel. With 24 hours daily broadcast of factual entertainment, variety show, drama, travelogue, infotainment, news and sports programmes, ViuTV has established itself as the epitome of high quality, creative local TV production in Hong Kong.
ViuTVsix provides top-notch television programmes from around the world. The channel also collaborates with major news networks worldwide to provide a variety of news programmes, along with live broadcasting of the world’s top sports events.
About PCCW Media
The media group of PCCW is a leading, fully integrated multimedia and entertainment group in Hong Kong.
The media group operates the leading pay-TV service in Hong Kong under the Now TV brand delivering both self-produced and licensed content to its customers using advanced IPTV technology. Now TV offers more than 190 linear channels and on demand library of local, Asian and international programming. Its premium content can also be accessed via Now Player app. It is also a leading producer of Chinese language news, financial news and sports programming in addition to Asian infotainment content which complements its wide portfolio of licensed movie and international television content.
The media group is also engaged in the provision of OTT (over-the-top) video service under the Viu brand in Hong Kong and other places in the region. In addition, MOOV is a hugely popular lossless music digital streaming service in Hong Kong.
Moreover, the media group operates one of Asia’s leading directories businesses under the Yellow Pages brand.
About PCCW Limited
PCCW Limited ( SEHK: 0008) is a global company headquartered in Hong Kong which holds interests in telecommunications, media, IT solutions, property development and investment, and other businesses.
The Company holds a majority interest in the HKT Trust and HKT Limited, Hong Kong’s premier telecommunications service provider and leading operator in fixed-line, broadband and mobile communication services. HKT meets the needs of the Hong Kong public and local and international businesses with a wide range of services including local telephony, local data and broadband, international telecommunications, mobile, and other telecommunications businesses such as customer premises equipment sale, outsourcing, consulting, and contact centers.
PCCW also owns a fully integrated multimedia and entertainment group in Hong Kong, PCCW Media. PCCW Media operates the largest local pay-TV operation, Now TV, and is engaged in the provision of OTT (over-the-top) video service under the Viu brand in Hong Kong and other places in the region.
Through HK Television Entertainment Company Limited, PCCW also operates a domestic free television service in Hong Kong.
Also wholly-owned by the Group, PCCW Solutions is a leading information technology outsourcing and business process outsourcing provider in Hong Kong and mainland China.
In addition, PCCW holds a majority interest in Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited, and other overseas investments. To learn more about PCCW, please visit www.pccw.com.
For media inquiries, please call:
Ivan Ho
PCCW
Tel: +852 2883 8747
Email: ivan.wy.ho@pccw.com
Portia Wong
ViuTV
Tel: +852 3665 5834
Email: portia.wong@viu.tv
Jointly issued by PCCW Media Limited and HK Television Entertainment Company Limited