Germany-Russia
The specially selected ‘Match of the Week’ is available to the World League’s host broadcasters as well as other TV channels. The FIVB launched the initiative in 2008 to further spread volleyball into regions where the sport has the potential to grow.
In total there will be seven matches – one more than in previous years – distributed by IMG free of charge to the host TV Broadcasters of the 18 participating countries. The matches will include English commentary and will be shown live and on demand on the FIVB Web TV, geo-blocked only in countries where respective rights have been sold.
The first ‘Match of the Week’ will see Korea and Japan (Pool C) play their first match together on June 1 at 14:00 GMT at the Hwasung Indoor Gym in Hwasung, Korea.
Week two will feature 2012 World League title holder Poland in a Pool A home match against Brazil in Warsaw on June 7 at 17:45 with week three featuring Russia against Serbia on June 14 at 18:00 in Kaliningrad for a Pool B match.
In week four fans will be able to watch Bulgaria host Argentina in Sofia (last year’s World League Finals host city) on June 22 at 20:00 in a Pool A match while week five will see Cuba take on Russia in Pool B on June 28 in La Habana at 20:40. Week six will feature Serbia again, this time taking on Italy in Novi Sad on July 6 at 20:00 in Pool B. In week 7 fans will be able to watch one of the biggest rivalries in volleyball when Brazil host USA in a Pool A match in Rio de Janeiro on July 14 at 09:45. All times are GMT.
In 2011 the ‘Match of the Week’ was broadcast by 19 international broadcasters across 53 territories. Highlights of all the matches also appeared in the 26 minute FIVB World League highlight, produced and distributed by IMG once a week. Like this year, all matches were shown live and on demand on FIVB Web TV.
This year the English commentary for the matches will be provided by Phil Bush, a former player turned broadcaster who has worked for the FIVB to provide the Play by Play for the FIVB ‘Match of the Week.’ He has spent 17 seasons working for Fox SportsNet South, ESPNU, CSS and Sun Sports.
The FIVB Volleyball World League is set to start on Friday and run until July 14 with the Finals taking place in Mar del Plata, Argentina from July 17 to 21.
To read more news from this competition click on latest news.
