The German group KIRCH has taken total control of the Anglo-Swiss audiovisual firm HBS - HOST BROADCASTING SERVICES, responsible for the televised broadcasting of football World Cup matches in 2002 and 2006. So far, the company was held equally by KIRCH and the Swiss firm ISSM-ISL, the world's largest sports marketing group against which bankruptcy proceedings were initiated in April. According to the German press, the group recorded losses of CHF 667 million in 2000.