MUMBAI: Football's governing body Fifa has announced a public tender for the broadcast and media rights to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Fifa will tender the rights on a regional basis. It will begin with the European, Asian and Oceanian continents. The official publication and launch of the invitation to tender will take place on 20 December 2004. Interested parties may obtain further information regarding this tender in due course on www.Fifa.com .

FIifa president Joseph S. Blatter said, "The tender procedure, which will be overseen by Fifa's marketing and TV division, is a reflection of Fifa's policy of transparency, its compliance with applicable competition law principles, and the wish to give all interested parties the opportunity to bid."

"Furthermore, the tender procedure wholly reflects FIFA's policy that the broadcast coverage of the 2010 Fifa World Cup should be universally accessible to the public."