Europe : Hutchison 3G and Vodafone have landed the exclusive FA Premier League football rights to stream goals, highlights and archive content to 3G mobiles in the UK. This was agreed for an undisclosed amount with the FA.

Currently, only 3 has exclusive rights but the current deal ends this season. Hutchison 3G paid £35 million pounds for the current exclusive rights yet due to network and phone delays have only managed to use this years entitlement of the exisiting contract.The new agreement ( Vodafone and 3G ) starts in September 2004 and ends in May 2008 and will cover around 1,150 FA Premier League matches.

Vodafone and 3 will offer : video match highlights, match previews, archive, round ups, audio alerts, match scores and picture messaging.

3’s existing, ground-breaking football service launched in March 2003 is a popular choice for customers who want the latest action delivered to the palm of their hand. Videosport on 3 gives customers the flexibility to enjoy the action when they’re out and about, whatever they are doing, so there’s no need to describe that great goal to mates in the pub, they can just show them on the video mobile.

Gavin Darby, CEO, Vodafone UK commented, "Vodafone live! has consistently delivered premium services to our customers and the FA Premier League deal further enhances what is already an excellent offering. Sport is inextricably linked with Vodafone through our sponsorships and this deal further strengthens what we can offer. Our bid partnership with 3 has ensured that we were best placed to deliver value for the Premiership clubs."

Gareth Jones, COO, 3 UK said, "3 already offers customers highlights from this season's Barclaycard Premiership on their video mobiles. Today's three season agreement re-inforces 3's position as the home of mobile football. The improved rights package guarantees customers an enhanced service until 2007.

Our joint bid with Vodafone is good news for fans, the clubs and ensures we continue to offer the leading football mobile service in the market." Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive, FA Premier League added, "The FA Premier League is happy to continue its partnership with 3 and welcomes the addition of Vodafone to our central mobile phone rights offering.

"These two companies have a proven track record in delivering quality services to their customers; this will be of obvious benefit to the competition as well as offering yet more access and choice for FA Premier League fans."

Video mobile network 3 last week unveiled a new £15 a month price plan that brings video mobile services within the reach of everybody in the UK with a mobile phone contract.

Last week, 3 announced Football 500 and a new range of add-on content bundles, which combined with existing price plans, bring the full range of video mobile services, including video calling, to the 14 million* people currently on a monthly mobile contract.

Four factors are driving UMTS adoption : regulatory mandates, greater network capacity, reduced capital and operating costs, and availability of well-functioning, numerous, and low-priced handset models."