UEFA kicks off live online Video Service

Games and highlights on pay-per-view or video-on-demand.

UEFA has launched an online video service offering access to live coverage of UEFA games for users in 96 countries.

The UEFA Video Service has been launched in conjunction with 20 broadcast partners which will provide video feeds.

Web users will be able to sign up for and pay to watch every UEFA Champions League match in the 2006/2007 season, and every UEFA Cup match from the quarter final stage next spring.

UEFA Video Service will allow partners to maximise the return on broadcasting games to wider global audiences, as well as benefit football fans accessing archived footage.

The site's archive includes over 5,000 videos and 1,000 matches from UEFA competitions dating back to the mid-1990s. Footage can be searched by season, club and player.

"The UEFA Video Service provides our broadcasting partners with a high quality and secure platform that can be tailored to individual needs and local markets," said UEFA Media Technologies chief executive Alexandre Fourtoy.

UEFA Media Technologies is a service company created by UEFA to "explore and exploit" new media opportunities.

Champions League Live games are offered on a pay-per-view basis at $5.00 for an ITV feed and $7.50 for a Sky Sports feed, depending on which broadcaster has the match rights.

Video-on-demand packages include a full season subscription for $75.00.