Available on: DISH Network, DirecTV and DirecTV Para Todos

PFC Internacional, a Portuguese-language sports channel focused on the international market, specially produced for soccer fans and Brazilians living abroad, will launch on DISH Network and on DIRECTV in January 2007. The channel is produced by Globosat, the largest Pay-TV programmer in Brazil, part of the Organizações Globo (Globo Organizations). TV Globo’s International Business Division will be responsible for negotiations and distribution to new carriers.

PFC Internacional will be available in the United States on the DIRECTV WorldDirect™ programming platform and on DISH Network™ satellite television service, the largest provider of Brazilian programming in the United States. (Read full article…)

By Derick Allsop, Sunday Telegraph

Sir Alex Ferguson has faced many tests of his management skills during 20 years at Manchester United, but Wayne Rooney’s misfiring form has presented him with perhaps one of his more awkward dilemmas.

In normal circumstances, today’s FA Cup third-round tie at home to a fragile Aston Villa would provide an obvious opportunity for Rooney to put up his feet following the demanding holiday programme.

The 21-year-old striker was allowed to sit out three-quarters of the match when the two clubs met in the Premiership at Villa Park a fortnight ago, but has given his familiar commitment through the rest of the schedule. (Read full article…)

BEIJING, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Chelsea are on track to achieve their goal of being the top club in the world by 2014 and China is key to their success, chief executive Peter Kenyon said on Monday.

Kenyon was in Beijing to launch the English champions’ Mandarin Web site — their first in a foreign language — and said the huge Chinese market had been a target since Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club, back in 2003.

Kenyon, who joined Chelsea in February 2004 after a period of ‘gardening leave’ following his resignation from Manchester United, said: “When we took over Chelsea….we set out a vision that by 2014 we would be the biggest football club in the world. (Read full article…)

The international friendly between Brazil and Portugal on February 6 will be played at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in London.

The fixture was announced by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) on Thursday but no venue was confirmed at the time.

It will be a second visit to the Emirates Stadium for Brazil, who played Argentina in a friendly there in August.

Portugal’s Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will be making his first trip to England since rejecting the national team job in the build-up to the World Cup last summer. (Read full article…)

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Saturday, January 6th, 2007

10:00 - 12:00 ET– FA Cup 3rd Round: Nottingham Forest v Charlton Athletic ***LIVE***

Spend the weekend following the FA Cup on Fox Sports World Canada . In the first of five televised matches, 2 sides who may be meeting in league play next season face off. Former European champions and current League One outfit Nottingham forest host Premiership strugglers Charlton Athletic at City Ground. Forest are battling for promotion to the League Championship while Charlton are facing relegation to that very same place. Both sides are coming off heavy defeats, with Forest falling 5-0 away to Oldham and Charlton losing 4-0 on the road against Arsenal. (Read full article…)

A 105 year tradition continues as Spain ’s finest kick off 2007 with the Copa del Rey. Starting January 9th at 3:00pm ET Atl. Madrid and Osasuna go toe-to–toe in the first leg of the finals LIVE on GOLTV. Then Alaves play defending La Liga and Champions League Champions Barcelona January 10th at 3:30pm ET featuring the star studded squad of Ronaldinho, Gianluca Zambrotta, Eidur Gudjohnsen and many more. PLUS watch FIFA’s 2006 World Player of the Year – Fabio Cannavaro as Real Madrid play Betis on January 11th LIVE at 3:00pm in the Copa del Rey.

Don’t miss table toppers FC Sevilla led by Freddy Kanoute take on Zaragoza LIVE January 6th at 4:00pm ET.

Watch GOLTV as the second leg of the Copa del Rey starts Wednesday January 17th. (Read full article…)

New Name, New Look For Internationally Acclaimed Soccer Highlights Program - 7 Nights a Week @ 10 p.m. ET Beginning January 8

(WINNIPEG – January 3, 2007) Fox Sports World Canada today unveiled a brand-new name and visual identity for its internationally watched flagship World Game highlights program. Formerly Fox Sports World Report, the refreshed, re-imagined package will premiere Monday, January 8 in more than 21 million homes worldwide as Fox Soccer Report.

Airing nightly at 11 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Report moves forward on its reputation for being the world’s soccer authority - delivering extended highlights from marquee games, post-match insight, and commentary on the world’s top leagues, including Barclays English Premiere League, SPL, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, La Liga, Serie-A, and the Portuguese Superliga. The program will also be invigorated by a dynamic new logo and graphic elements package. (Read full article…)

FOX SPORTS INTERNATIONAL RENEWS U.S. BROADCAST RIGHTS TO THE BARCLAYS ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE THROUGH 2010

Fox Soccer Channel Retains Rights to Air Matches in English; Fox Sports en Español to Broadcast in Spanish

Los Angeles, CA – January 3, 2007 – Fox Sports International today announced it has renewed its partnership with the English Football Association Premier League, renewing Fox Soccer Channel’s exclusive broadcast rights to the Barclays English Premier League in the United States through the 2009/2010 Premiership season. As part of the same agreement, U.S. Spanish-language rights will be licensed to sister network Fox Sports en Español. Further details on the agreement will be announced at a later date. (Read full article…)

FOX SPORTS INTERNATIONAL RENEWS U.S. BROADCAST RIGHTS TO THE BARCLAY’S ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE THROUGH 2010

Los Angeles, CA — January 3, 2007 — Fox Sports International today announced it has renewed its partnership with the English Football Association Premier League, renewing Fox Soccer Channel’s exclusive broadcast rights to the Barclays English Premier League in the United States through the 2009/2010 Premiership season.

As part of the same agreement, U.S. Spanish-language rights will be licensed to sister network Fox Sports en Español. (Read full article…)

LONDON (AFX) - British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC has won three of the six packages on offer in the auction for the right to televise live English Premiership football, with the remaining matches set to go to a second round of bidding.

‘The FA Premier League is in a position to announce that it has awarded three out of the six packages of live rights to BSkyB,’ said the League in a statement.

‘We will be proceeding to a second round of bidding for the remaining three packages in due course.’ (Read full article…)