Sports / Soccer
Tiansheng wins EPL rights, but loses fans
By Roy Wang (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-05-16 17:30
China's 30 million English Premier League (EPL) fans will now have to pay
188 yuan (US$24) per month or 1,880 yuan a year to watch matches starting
from August this year, China.com reported Tuesday.
Tiansheng TV or WinTV run by state-owned Guangdong Provincial Television
won the broadcast rights over six other bidders with an offer of US$50
million for three seasons.
"The fans will have to endure the pain of the change. Let's say goodbye
to free Premier League. No more free lunch in the future," said Tiansheng
TV president Song Zheng. "Fans can enjoy the games in various convenient
ways, and right now - they have to pay."
Win TV only has 40,000 subscribers at the moment, but thinks with its new
broadcast rights, Win TV is confident it can win over a legion of English
football fans. It also will provide coverage on cell phones, online along
with live TV.
But this latest development has enraged English footie fans in China who
have launched nationwide "Pay Boycott" over the Internet against
Tiansheng.
"188 yuan per month for one channel is too expensive for ordinary Chinese
fans who just earn 2,000-3,000 yuan (US$260-US$390) per month," a fan
ranted on a posting called "Farewell English soccer, Reject Tiansheng" on
a website forum yesterday.
"I remember British fans only paid 18 [English] pounds for 56 pay
channels and 47 pounds for 207 channels when I was in London in 2000,"
the fan added.
However, there were rumors of price differences on the Internet which
sparked discussion. Another fan on a website said that Tiansheng TV had
set the price of 688 yuan for a full season or 368 yuan for half season,
reduced by more than half of the planned 1,692 yuan for full season,
which would be a good news for fans if it was true.
But Miss Huang with the Business Development Department of Tiansheng TV
Company denied the fan's disclosure, saying she did not know much about
the pricing system, and that the final price would be released a few days
later.
"We will definitely not subcontract the broadcasting rights to other
domestic local TV stations because we offered US$50 million for it," she
said. We look forward to having more fans subscribe tothe channel."
Tiansheng also denied a report saying it will invite former CCTV
commentator Huang Jianxiang to host the EPL games.
"Huang has signed a contract with Phoenix TV in Hong Kong, so that's
impossible unless Huang breaks his promise," Miss Huang clarified.
"We will host a press conference before mid-June to tell the fans what
they want to know," Huang added.
Song Zheng, CEO of Tiansheng TV, speaks during a press conference hosted
by Tiansheng Eurosoccer Channel in Beijing February 12, 2007. Tiansheng
won the broadcast rights over six other bidders by an offer of US$50
million for three seasons of the English Premier League.[photo: sina]
"Tiansheng's pay TV has to be transmitted via local cable TV networks.
And as we know, the cable TV networks work closely with local TV stations
in China. If they jointly reject Tiansheng's access to the networks,
Tiansheng will suffer a big blow," an insider told a reporter. "I believe
both Tiansheng and the local TV stations are willing to reach a deal."
"Our negotiation with Tiansheng is under way, and anything is possible.
We are trying our best," said a person responsible for BTV-6 or Beijing
TV Station Sports Channel last night. "We are not sure BTV will relay it
from the beginning of next season, but Beijing soccer fans could watch
the games after two or three rounds."
To go around paying for the subscription, some fans recommended a website
called myp2p.eu which will webcast all the English Premier League games
for free.
Before the end of last season, China's 30 million Premiership addicts
could watch games live on ESPN-Star, a joint venture between Walt Disney
Co. and News Corp., via a local cable TV broadcasting service, at a much
lower monthly cost.
Tiansheng TV beat out CCTV and ESPN to win the rights. The company will
also broadcast a range of European soccer matches, including the
Premiership, Italy's Serie A, Spain's La Liga and Germany's Bundesliga.
The network also covers league matches in Japan and South Korea.
"We will broadcast all the games of the Chinese overseas players; we have
won the rights of 18 events worldwide," said Song .
Top Sports News
� Mourinho arrested, cautioned over pet dog
� Mavs' Nowitzki first European named NBA MVP
� Serena beats Krajicek in comeback match
� Veteran Zhou succumbs to morning finals
� England quartet feel winds of change
Today's Top News
� US: Private trade talks can be more fruitful
� China sincere in helping Africa - Wen
� Wasteful spending by gov'ts criticized
� Bush names "war manager" for Iraq
� Disputes high on Sino-US talks agenda
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Chinese Course, Learn mandarin, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment