Univision Communications and Walt Disney Co.'s ABC and ESPN networks have agreed to pay a record $425 million to televise World Cup soccer and other events in the U.S. from 2007 to 2014, the
Federation Internationale de Football Association confirmed Wednesday. As part of the deals, the media companies agreed to devote "substantial promotions" to the world class soccer events, which are
wildly popular outside the U.S., but have yet to catch on with mainstream American audiences. In an indication of that cultural divide, Univision agreed to pay $325 million for exclusive
Spanish-language rights in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, while ABC and ESPN agreed to pay $100 million for English-language rights. -- Joe Mandese