No longer do Americans ask what is “FIFA” or the “World Cup.” This year’s international soccer championship in South Africa drew huge TV and radio audiences in this country. Now the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is working with the USA Bid Committee to try to have the 2018 or 2022 tournament played in the USA.
To promote this initiative, the USA Bid Committee, a nonprofit organization advocating to bring the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA – Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup to the US, and the NAB will provide resources for broadcasters to use to encourage viewers and listeners nationwide to sign a petition supporting the USA as a World Cup host country. The petition will be delivered to FIFA in November, prior to the December date when the host country decision will be announced.
“This is a great chance for local broadcasters to activate our tens of millions of viewers and listeners in bringing the World Cup to America,” said Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton. “We hope radio and television stations will consider getting the word out to their audiences by utilizing the resources provided by NAB and the USA Bid Committee.”
NAB and the USA Bid Committee will provide broadcasters with television and radio spots, web banners and a sample press release encouraging viewers and listeners to sign the petition advocating the U.S. as the 2018 or 2022 host country of the World Cup. For additional information, visit NAB.org or GoUSABid.com.
RBR-TVBR observation: When Granite Broadcasting began its campaign to promote the USA World Cup bid in June we applauded the move and noted how much popularity soccer has gained in this country since the 1994 World Cup was held here. It looks like others also thought Granite was onto something.
