ESPN taps AFP for Portuguese-language Olympics coverage in Brazil

AFP, the news service, has signed two new contracts for its Portuguese-language HD video service, including ESPN, which has purchased coverage of the London Olympics. Meanwhile TV Século 21, one of Brazil's leading Catholic television networks, will receive its entire production slate of videos, edited and voiced in Portuguese. AFP's Portuguese-language video service, which launched in January 2012, has fast gained leadership in the Brazilian market, the company said. So far, AFP is the only news agency operating in Brazil to offer high-definition Portuguese-speaking video production. "These contracts reflect our better understanding of the needs of clients and a recent increase in video production for the Brazilian market," said an AFP spokesperson. "Careful selection of topics relevant to the region, image editing and adaptation into Portuguese: every effort is deployed to boost video content for the Web and broadcast markets. The video service is one of AFP's key priorities, the company said. With more than 90 production centres worldwide, the agency edits video content in seven languages (English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Arabic and Polish).