(7 June 2006 7:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Worldspace Satellite Radio has announced that subscribers in India can get the inside track on the world's most popular sporting event as its channel Play! kicks off its coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2006.

Play! is partnering with BBC and Trans World International to bring subscribers an exclusive mix of programming that captures the action, news, views and profiles from the World Cup.

India's top footballer, Baichung Bhutia, joins the Worldspace team as they decode the strategies, talk you through the day's highlights from Germany, and rope you into the game with exciting contests and interactive programming initiatives, states an official release. Star profiles, background trivia on the stadiums, coaches and teams, daily previews, comments from fans, and expert analysis will be part of the programme offering.

Playtime, the morning programming session on Play!, will air an hour and a half of football programming, sharing the previous day's results, commentary bytes and vox-pops from fans in Germany as well as listeners from around the world. Playtime will also host a special call-in segment with Bhutia between 11:30 am and noon every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday during the World Cup, where subscribers will get to discuss the previous day's goals, blunders and strategies, the release adds.

Playground, the afternoon session, kicks off at noon with daily TWI updates and a weekly chat with Bhutia every Friday afternoon. Matthew Kenyon, Worldspace's lead reporter at the FIFA World Cup, reports live from Germany, wrapping up the show with his predictions for the day's games.

Play! Quiz takes on a World Cup theme the entire month. Subscribers get a chance to win exclusive merchandise by answering football trivia on players, teams, coaches, venues and more.