Philips brings the 2006 FIFA World Cup live to your home

Widescreen and large TVs have become a common and popular feature of home entertainment in recent years, with many new digital broadcast services and the DVD disc format all offering content in widescreen aspect ratios such as 16:9 and 'letterbox'.

Sports - football in particular - is an ideal subject matter for widescreen viewing as widescreen display recreates the experience that the fan in the stadium enjoys. Football fans around the world enjoy watching the World Cup broadcasted entirely on large screen TVs, as it provides a sense of involvement in the game.

Louis Hakim, CEO of Philips Middle East commented on the deal: "Philips is an Official Partner of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in the consumer electronics category. As one of the world's leading innovators of television and display technologies, it has been a pioneer of the application of widescreen home entertainment since the 1960s. Philips offers some unique advantages in terms of technology, performance and style."

Broadcast coverage of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ reached 213 countries - virtually every nation in the world - with over 41,000 hours of dedicated programming, making the event the most extensively covered and viewed event in television history.

"The widescreen broadcasting of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ will add an exciting new dimension to home viewing of the world's most popular sport," added Khalid Tuer, Consumer Electronics General Manager for Philips Middle East.

To highlight the home entertainment benefits that widescreen broadcasting will bring to sports fans all over the world, Philips is offering high value packages this season including:

• 42" PF9966 Flat & Slim Pixel Plus 2, Ambilight Plasma TV with a wireless home theatre system LX 8500W

• 42" 42PF9946 with LX3600D home theatre system

• 43" 43PP8545 projection TV with free stand and slim DVD player

• 26" LCD TV for people looking for a sleek bedroom set, offered with a free DVD recorder