Television broadcasting rights for the 25th SEA Games are open to bids from interested countries after the SEA Games Federation gave the go-ahead for the games organising committee to sell the rights.
The SEA Games Marketing and Benefit Committee has assigned the Phetchampa Advertising Company to act as the agent to sell broadcasting rights to the games.
The company's Director, Mr Khammoui Keomany, yesterday confirmed that the company is not concerned about the controversy surrounding the sale of rights to broadcast the games, which has never occurred for past games.
“I've heard from various media sources that the Thai Olympic Committee disagrees with the Lao decision to sell the broadcasting rights, as it has never happened before. But, I can confirm we will continue with our plans to do so because we have received permission and there is strong interest from participating countries,” he said.
Mr Khammoui said the Lao government has invested millions of dollars in organising the broadcasting of the games and the proceeds from selling the rights will recover some of that expenditure.
Last week, the company signed agreements to allow the RS International Broadcasting and Sports Management Company of Thailand and True Sport to broadcast the games. Two Vietnamese television channels have also purchased rights to broadcast the games.
“We are now in negotiations with companies from Indonesia , Malaysia and Singapore ,” he said.
Mr Khammoui said 25 percent of each purchase for broadcasting rights will go to the Olympic committee of the country making the acquisition.
Lao National Television (LNTV) will broadcast the games' opening and closing ceremonies, as well as 17 of the 25 sports included in the event.
LNTV Director Dr Bounchom Vongphet said the most popular sports will be broadcast on channels 1 and 3. LNTV will also cooperate with Lao Star Channel to ensure 10 hours of competition are broadcast every day, with Lao Star Channel showing two hours per day.
LNTV has organised training courses for its cameramen and producers to ensure the best quality broadcasting possible during the event. They continue to train staff to cover the biggest ever sporting event to come to Laos .
“We will have 11 news teams to report on all the daily competitions from the stadiums through fibre-optic and microwave links to the International Broadcasting Centre. Many staff still need to improve their skills before the games,” Dr Bounchom said.
The broadcasters will have the opportunity to test their readiness for the games at the pre-SEA Games men's football tournament in Vientiane from October 2-6.
By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes
