Broadcaster ATV Could Lose Rights To Football Matches In Hong Kong

The Hong Kong FA warned on Monday that financially-troubled ATV "could this week lose its broadcasting rights" for domestic football games, according to Chan Kin-wa of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. According to a contract, the football body "is required to pay the television station the second half of a broadcasting fee this week, but at an association board meeting, members accused ATV of failing to fulfil the terms of the contract in doing little to promote the sport." HKFA Chair Brian Leung Hung-tak said, "We will hold talks with ATV to sort things out and may terminate the contract if they continue to ignore the agreement between the two parties." Other than covering a number of live and recorded matches, ATV "was also required to produce separate programmes to promote clubs and the sport in general before receiving the money." But so far, the TV station "has fulfilled only part of the agreement by covering live matches" (SCMP, 1/26).