Three months into 2009 the year has thus far proven to be a dynamic and productive one for Host Broadcast Services (HBS). The company has been working tirelessly on a number of fronts, and over many continents, to ensure the flawless execution of its projects.

LFP: With only a few match days remaining in the French Ligue 1 football season, HBS is very pleased with the way its inaugural season as host broadcaster of the league has developed. HBS was announced as the host broadcaster for the 2008-2012 seasons less than twelve months ago and immediately devoted a vast amount of resources to the undertaking. Though the company had a strong background in football broadcasting due to its role as host broadcaster of the last two FIFA World Cups™ it had never before been involved in a venture combining scale and duration to such an extent: nine matches for each of 38 match days for a total of 342 matches per season. HBS has risen to the challenge and is pleased to note that its coverage has been praised by viewers and industry professionals alike.

HBS' work on Ligue 1 has also been a win-win situation in which the company is able to effectively apply the expertise gained from past events to its Ligue 1 broadcasts while continuing to create innovative and appropriate production solutions, the best and most appreciated of which may be implemented for future projects. An example of this "virtuous circle" is the Clip Compilation Channel which was inaugurated at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ and spun off into a searchable clip database for Ligue 1, which in turn has inspired improvements to the Clips Compilation Channel for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

FIFA WBM 1: As has been the case since the company's creation, HBS' most demanding project remains the FIFA World Cup™, in this case the fast-approaching 2010 edition of the tournament in South Africa. The first of two FIFA World Broadcaster Meetings is being held 21-22 April in Johannesburg and allows Media Rights Licensees the opportunity to fine-tune their broadcasting plans following presentations by, and discussions with, FIFA, HBS and the Local Organising Committee.

FIFA Confederations Cup: The FIFA Confederations Cup 2009, scheduled for 14-28 June and taking place in four of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ stadiums, will serve as a testing ground for planned production innovations as well as for the logistical challenges awaiting HBS in 2010.
Though HBS has been working on the 2010 tournament essentially since the final whistle blew in Germany in 2006 these two milestones, especially coming in such close succession, represent a sort of psychological marker for HBS staff, a starter pistol for the final lap of FIFA World Cup™ preparations. HBS is determined to pull out all the stops to make the host broadcast operations of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ a literal "best ever". Media Rights Licensees will find more information on the FIFA TV Extranet.

Lastly, 2009 is important to HBS for another, more sentimental reason as well: it marks the company's tenth anniversary. Looking back at its first ten years HBS is proud to have been selected for so many prestigious events and looks forward to being the host broadcaster of many more.