Free-TV Struggling To Air Olympics In Hong Kong

Hong Kong's top sports official has written to the IOC to "raise his concerns after a deal to air the London Games on a free channel apparently fell apart," according to Phila Siu of the Hong Kong STANDARD. Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China President Timothy Fok Tsun-ting said that he informed IOC President Jacques Rogge that "there is still no deal in place" between rights holder i-Cable and ATV and TVB. Last month, ATV said that it "planned to accept" i-Cable's offer and broadcast the Olympics on its English-language World channel. But last week i-Cable and ATV said that negotiations have been put on hold because ATV broadcasts are widely seen in parts of China's Guangdong province, and this "may infringe on the exclusive rights of mainland stations." Fok said that i-Cable is required to broadcast part of the Olympics -- at least 200 hours -- on a free-TV channel under the terms of its agreement. Rogge had said earlier that i-Cable will be "stripped of its broadcasting rights if its reach to audiences is not adequate" (THE STANDARD, 7/9).