Mexican giant Telefonos de Mexico (TELMEX) has announced the completion of the buy-out of Big Internet Group, LLC, operator of the popular US-based website BigSoccer.com for US$4.2 million.

Big Internet Group ("BIG") is a mid-sized Internet content developer with more than 1,500,000 monthly users worldwide as of the beginning of 2009. BIG is focused on niche international sports verticals. Their largest property, BigSoccer, is considered the leading independent voice for soccer fans in the United States, and is rapidly growing in Canada. According to TELMEX officials, the acquisition of Big Internet Group will allow TELMEX to penetrate the online American soccer market through BigSoccer's existing services, supplemented by TELMEX's provision of online TV and video offerings through their exclusive contracts with FIFA Soccer News Topics and CONCACAF for regional online rights.

Along these lines, TELMEX has launched a triple-play package in partnership with AT&T targeting Mexican Americans that includes pay TV and wireless high-speed Internet and telephony services based on wireless broadband technology, and will make a Spanish-language version of BigSoccer the default homepage for those subscribers.

TELMEX's corporate manager of Marketing and Products, Emilio Soccer News Topics Martinic, explained that "fundamentally the services of BigSoccer will not change. We will be adding in an abundance of new broadband content and, since we are targeting the Mexican-American community, there may be some revisions to BigSoccer's editorial policies." Martinic projected coverage of the new package will soon expand to cover 68% of the national territory by May 2010. The monthly cost of the service, which is commercialised under the brand name BigSoccer Triple Play Mexicana, is US$76.52.

"TELMEX and BigSoccer share a vision of bringing the richest and most diverse Internet experience to Spanish speakers throughout America," said Jesse Hertzberg, Managing Partner of Big Internet Group. "The strong TELMEX portfolio of integrated Internet delivery services, will combine with our leading coverage of the world's most popular game from a distinctly Mexican-American perspective. The new BigSoccer will provide rich content and a premier online service for Spanish-speaking consumers in U.S. Hispanic markets."

TELMEX announced the deployment of its own US-based WiMAX network in January 2007 in partnership with Alcatel-Lucent. The launch of services followed in March 2007, with offerings targeting the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and corporate market. The acquisition of BigSoccer and partnership with AT&T will allow TELMEX to establish its presence in the US' residential segment by combining pay-TV service with broadband and telephony services offered over TELMEX's WiMAX network.

Simultaneous with the closing of this transaction, TELMEX divested former Big Internet Group assets BigCricket.com and BigFooty.com to Australia-based News Corp for AUS$7.64 million. News Corp. had no comment at time of publication.

TELMEX is the leading telecommunications company in Mexico. TELMEX and its subsidiaries provide a wide range of telecommunications services, data and video transmission and Internet access, as well as integrated telecommunications solutions to its corporate customers. Additionally, it offers telecommunications services through its international subsidiaries in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru. More information about TELMEX can be accessed on the Internet at www.TELMEX.com.