Yahoo scores with World Cup highlights

Internet giant Yahoo has secured the rights to show web-based highlights of matches from the upcoming World Cup.

Yahoo disclosed details of the plan yesterday which it negotiated with German media group KirchSport and the sport's governing body, FIFA.

Fans will be able to see four minutes of online highlights from all 64 matches in the tournament, to be held in South Korea and Japan between 31 May and 30 June.

The highlights will become available around three hours after the final game of each day has concluded.

Fans will be able to choose the team they wish to follow and hear the commentary in English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese or Korean.

Yahoo general manager Tonya Antonucci told Reuters that she expected the number of fans willing to pay the $19.95 fee to reach "six figures" globally.

"We believe there is tremendous consumer interest around the world and that the service will complement traditional TV broadcasting," she said.

Embattled FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the deal marked a "new era in communications" and gave soccer fans greater choice wherever they were in the world.