Belgacom supports Division 2 football and broadcasts matches exclusively on Belgacom TV, tablets, smartphones, PC and Mac.

Brussels, 9^th November 2011 - Belgacom, a new partner and sponsor of Sporting Charleroi, AS Eupen, Royal Antwerp FC and KV Waasland-Beveren, will exclusively broadcast their home matches of the 2011-2012 season. These matches will be accessible to all Belgacom TV subscribers free of charge. In addition, Belgacom is preparing a reality-TV show on life behind the scenes of the football clubs and the fight for promotion to Division 1.

Belgacom, which is already a partner of professional Belgian football (the Red Devils, RSC Anderlecht, AA Gent and Lokeren, as well as the Jupiler Pro League with five matches per weekend) and of amateur Belgian football (through its Belgacom Dreambox initiative), now also wants to support the Belgian Division 2. That is why Belgacom decided to conclude sponsoring partnerships with the clubs Sporting Charleroi, AS Eupen, Royal Antwerp FC and KV Waasland-Beveren. This cooperation will give these clubs and the D2 championship more visibility thanks to the exclusive live broadcast of their home matches on Belgacom TV and the new reality TV show that Belgacom is developing together with Eyeworks.

In practice, as of Saturday 12 November, Belgacom TV subscribers will be able to watch the home matches (usually two extra matches per weekend) for free on their TV, tablet, smartphone, PC or Mac.

The home matches of these four clubs will be broadcast on Friday evenings, Sunday afternoons or Monday evenings, depending on the agreements between these clubs and the cities concerned - in other words, on different times than the five matches of the Jupiler Pro League and the two matches of the Primeira Liga already available on Belgacom 11. These matches will be broadcast on channel 11 (Belgacom 11), which is included in the basic Belgacom TV offer. Our partner Woestijnvis is the production partner for these live matches.

The partnership between Belgacom and the clubs also includes the production of a docu-reality TV program on the life of the clubs and the promotion to Division 1. Players, supporters, trainers, managers and volunteers will star in the stories that reflect the everyday life of the football clubs, the victory and defeat, match after match, as they fight for the title and their eventual promotion to Division 1. The weekly episodes will be broadcast in the first quarter of 2012. The company Eyeworks was chosen by Belgacom to produce this new approach to football on television.

Thanks to the "TV Everywhere" service launched in the beginning of July, and the latest "Belgacom 11" application, all Belgacom TV subscribers can now also watch the home matches of the clubs live, wherever they are, on their PC, tablet or smartphone (via Wi-Fi and 3G on Belgian territory). The "TV Everywhere" application is now available on Android Market and Apple App Store. The "Belgacom 11" application is currently available on Apple App Store and soon also on Android.

The top match between Eupen, the current leader, and Charleroi (in third place) on the 13th match day, will be the first Division 2 match broadcast live on Belgacom TV, with commentary by Marc Delire. The next televised fixtures of the Division 2 championship are:

• 14th match day: KV Waasland-Beveren vs. KSV Roulers and Sporting Charleroi vs. CS Visé
• 15th match day: AS Eupen vs. ST Wetteren and Royal Antwerp FC vs. Sporting Charleroi
• 16th match day: Sporting Charleroi vs. FC Dender

Bruno Chauvat, Executive Vice-President Strategy & Content at Belgacom: "Belgacom is delighted to confirm its position as a partner of all Belgian football: from amateur clubs to the international elite, the Jupiler Pro League and the current leaders of the Division 2. In 2005, Belgacom TV had great success with the television broadcast of all D1 matches, to the delight of Belgian football fans. We hope to have the same success by forming partnerships with the clubs of Charleroi, Eupen, Antwerp and Waasland-Beveren for the live broadcast of their home matches and a very innovative reality TV program." 

Mehdi Bayat, General Manager of Sporting Charleroi: "Sporting Charleroi is very honored to be able to count on a national partner such as Belgacom. Our unfortunate demotion to D2 has made us aware of the sporting difficulties of this championship, but also of its lack of fame and visibility. This project demonstrates Belgacom's commitment to Belgian football in general and will give us an opportunity to show that D2 is just an antechamber of elite football. Sporting Charleroi will do everything it can to live up to this partnership. Go Zebras, and see you soon on Belgacom TV!"

Ingo Klein, General Manager of AS Eupen: "AS Eupen is delighted to partner up with Belgacom. We share many values, such as innovation and proximity. AS Eupen is the current leader of Division 2. Football fans are invited to watch AS Eupen and the reality TV program on their televisions and via the Internet. It's a great opportunity for the club and for football in Belgium."

Gunther Hofmans, CEO of Royal Antwerp FC: "We are convinced that Belgacom, as a football specialist, will give us the desired visibility. This is a superb example of collaboration since both parties benefit from it: Belgacom supports our project by providing a professional framework in terms of TV images, and we give Belgacom access to the football team with the most supporters in Antwerp and Kempen. By becoming accessible to a maximum of people, we can convince passive supporters to gradually return to the stadium. This agreement will, in any event, improve the transparency and accessibility of the Royal Antwerp Football Club."

Dirk Poppe, General Manager of KV Waasland-Beveren: "KV Waasland-Beveren is pleased to confirm the agreement concluded with Belgacom. Belgacom has joined the club's exclusive circle of "Diamond Partners". The club from Waasland-Beveren will do its utmost to honor Belgacom's trust, and hopes that this partnership will give an extra impetus to second-division football."

Belgacom TV's free football offer is now available every weekend

• Five matches of the Jupiler Pro League and Multi Live on your TV, PC/Mac, smartphone and tablet
• Two matches of the Primeira Liga (Portugal) on your TV, PC/Mac, smartphone and tablet
• Two matches of Division 2 on your TV, PC/Mac, smartphone and tablet
  
• All the summaries and goals of the Spanish Liga on your PC/Mac, smartphone and tablet