"After prolonged negotiations that lasted nearly a year, we have finally signed a contract to bring the 2014 Rio de Janero Football World Cup to Vietnam," said Nguyen Ha Nam, head of the Secretariat and Editorial Department.
"Following the contract, VTV has exclusive rights to offer live all 64 matches and ceremonies of the tournament, as well as a daily highlights package of 45 minutes, across cable, satellite, mobiphone, Internet and terrestrial platforms on all of its public and commercial television channels and radio waves," Nam said.
The World Cup will kick off on June 13 Vietnam time. Hosts Brazil and Cameroon will play the opening match of Group A at Sao Paulo's Arena de Sao Paulo Stadium.
Apart from programmes bought from FIFA, VTV also has plans to produce its own shows to make it an eventful month in Vietnam.
According to Phan Ngoc Tien, VTV's director of sport section, three equips will be sent to Brazil to work on the World Cup.
"They will make clips, bulletins, reports and diaries with a view to bringing the complete football atmosphere to Vietnam. We have broadcasting rights, so we will easily approach VIPs, including the stars, so that we have interesting interviews as well as other sideline productions," said Tien.
Tien said that apart from its own hosts and hostesses, VTV will also invite well-known commentators to discuss before, between and after every game.
VTV representatives refused to publish the value of the deal as it was a regulated article in the contract. However, it was rumoured to be around US$7 million.
VTV is ready to share the rights with other television stations who receive FIFA's written consent.
