MUMBAI: Arab Radio and Television (ART) will be presenting the live coverage of 2006 FIFA World Cup for Middle East viewers on Firstnet, Pehla and Al Awael.

64 matches from 12 cities across Germany will be shown live, starting from Germanys opening match against Costa Rica on 9 June to the final on 9 July.

This marks the second consecutive time ART will exclusively broadcast the games for millions across the region. Apart from the large number of sport channels enjoyed by subscribers of Firstnet, Pehla and Al Awael fans can also look forward to brand new channels dedicated purely to the biggest sports event.

Arab Digital Distribution executive vice president - group strategy and planning Vinod DMello said, "For some, football is a game played by 22 people. To us it is passion lived by millions of sports fans. Weve responded to this passion by bringing the best in football including the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions league to our subscribers. We are thrilled to be able to offer the unprecedented television coverage of the worlds most exciting, prestigious and popular sporting event, the FIFA World Cup 2006."