ATV could lose rights to soccer matches in Hong Kong
Football association says TV station has failed to fully meet terms of contract
Financially-troubled ATV could this week lose its broadcasting rights for domestic soccer games, the Hong Kong Football Association warned on Monday.
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.
"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," said association chairman Brian Leung Hung-tak.
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
At the beginning of the season, ATV beat off competitor TVB to win broadcasting rights for the inaugural Premier League after the association accepted a deal to offer the television station HK$2.5 million.
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 television station has fulfilled only part of the agreement by covering live matches.
The clubs have been left disappointed with most of the recorded matches being shown at late hours with little audience.
