Life After Music Publishing

Universal’s much-reported and recently rubber-stamped euro £1.63 billion (US$2.07 billion) buyout of Bertelsmann’s music publishing business has left the company with time to think about soccer.

A May 16 press release proudly announced the Gütersloh-based media giant will be producing the program and various other souvenir publications for UEFA’s 2008 European championship.

The agreement was struck with UEFA and Warner Bros., which is the event’s licensing agent, and covers the exclusive publishing license for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg.

Five Bertelsmann companies will be involved in producing two dozen products including official magazines, reference books, posters, encyclopedias, calendars, children’s coloring books and various football games.