The International Broadcast Centre (IBC) for UEFA EURO 2008(TM) in Vienna Officially Opens

The International Broadcast Centre (IBC) for UEFA EURO 2008(TM) in Vienna Officially Opens

NYON, Switzerland, June 3/PRNewswire/ --

- UEFA President Michel Platini is Opening the IBC, the hub for the
Distribution of the TV Signal to the Billions of Fans Around the World

The International Broadcast Centre (IBC) in Vienna will be officially
opened on 3 June by UEFA President Michel Platini who will switch on the TV
video feeds from all the Austrian and Swiss venues in the IBC Master Control
Room by a symbolic push of the button - the hub of all incoming and outgoing
video and audio signals via fibre or satellite from venues and all other
sites.

General Secretary of UEFA David Taylor and over 200 guests including the
Austrian Chancellor, Dr Alfred Gusenbauer, major of Vienna Michael Häupl and
Friedrich Stickler, President of the Austrian FA, representatives of the
media, the broadcast partners and the UEFA commercial partners are expected
to attend the opening.

Alexandre Fourtoy, CEO of UEFA Media Technologies SA, the 100 per cent
subsidiary of UEFA in charge of the Host Broadcast Operations of UEFA EURO
2008(TM) will welcome the guests and present the IBC and the overall Host
Broadcast Operations project.

The IBC will serve as the international nerve centre of Host Broadcast
Operations, with over 10,000 square metres of production and office space
made available to over 30 broadcast partners from around the world with all
of the rights-holding broadcasters relying on IBC to serve almost 200
territories. The IBC is situated at the Reed Messe Wien in Vienna.

The opening ceremony wil start at 16:00 CET and includes:

- Welcome address by UEFA Media Technologies SA CEO Alexandre
Fourtoy at main entrance of IBC

- The Big Switch-On - video presentations from all eight venues &
host cities

- Photo call

- Guided IBC VIP Tour

- Trophy showcase with UEFA President Michel Platini including
photocall

For the first time in EURO history, UEFA will produce the television
signal for the tournament itself through its subsidiary UEFA Media
Technologies SA. As host broadcaster, UEFA Media Technologies will be
responsible for the transmission of TV pictures from UEFA EURO 2008(TM).

Over 2,000 people will be involved in Host Broadcast Operations at the
IBC and the venues, and over sites such as the team training camps during a
four-week period.

"The official opening of the IBC is a major milestone for the whole Host
Broadcast Operations team. We would like to take this opportunity to thank
everyone involved in making this such a successful project. The IBC is the
hub for the distribution of the TV signal to the billions of fans around the
world, and will provide a wide range of services such as medical services,
catering, service booths and internet terminals. We are confident that the
IBC will adequately service the requirements of UEFA EURO 2008(TM) broadcast
partners," said Alexandre Fourtoy, CEO of UEFA Media Technologies.

From 03 to 29 June 2008, Host Broadcast Operations will be offering
guided tours of the IBC. The tours will be held in English and German, other
languages may be made available on request. Each tour will last 60 minutes.

Note to editors:

UEFA Media Technologies SA ("UMET") is a fully owned subsidiary of UEFA
and UEFA's arm for digital media. UMET evaluates, implements and maintains
solutions for the web, IT needs and television production for UEFA and
develops know-how in digital media convergence for the benefit of football
fans and the football family.

Amongst its activity areas, UMET manages UEFA's websites, uefa.com and
euro2008.com, develops and implements UEFA's FAME system (the Football
Administration Management Environment, dedicated to the administration of
European football) and is in charge of UEFA EURO 2008(TM) host broadcast
operations for UEFA.

The core UMET team consists of 130 professionals from 18 different
countries, structured in Content, TV Production, ICT and Partner Services. It
provides multiple synergies dealing with complex projects in converged media
for UEFA.

Contact:
Rachel Pearse at Fast Web Media
Tel.: +44(0)161-237-17-35
E-Mail: Rachel.pearse@fastwebmedia.com

Source: UEFA - Union of European Football Association

Contact: Rachel Pearse at Fast Web Media, Tel.: +44(0)161-237-17-35, E-Mail: Rachel.pearse@fastwebmedia.com

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