2014 FIFA World Cup free to air television rights holder, Mai TV is expected to provide all its costs and details of the exclusive rights it holds for the World Cup Soccer today to the Communications Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
FIFA World Cup is now a Designated Event under the new Television Cross Carriage of Designated Events Decree which means that all the free to air television licensees in the country can show the games live on their free to air channels.
When contacted on the details of the conditions of the exclusive rights held by Mai TV, the costs associated with getting the rights and the steps being taken under the decree to comply with the new law to share the rights with all free to air TV stations, Mai TV General Manager, Marc Santos said he will not comment at this stage.
The FIFA World Cup kicks off at 8am next Friday (Fiji time) with Brazil taking on Croatia.
With the new decree in force, the free to air TV stations including FBC TV and Fiji One who did not have the rights must show the FIFA World Cup games.
Any free to air television licensee including any Director or Chief Executive Officer who contravenes the decree commits an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $500,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or both.
Under the decree, if the Communications Minister has designated an event and a licensee has obtained exclusive rights to broadcast the event, the licensee to be known as the Principal Broadcaster must within two days of the designation notify the Ministry in writing of the exclusive license.
Unless directed otherwise by the Minister, all free to air television licensees must initiate discussions and agree on the sharing of the feed of the Designated Event with the Principal Broadcaster who wish to broadcast the event within seven days of receiving the notice from the Ministry.
Any licensee who receives the feed provided by the rights holder must compensate the rights holder for the transmission of the feed as determined by the Ministry of Communications.
When determining the amount to be compensated, the Ministry must take into consideration the costs incurred by the Principal Broadcaster in obtaining the rights for the Designated Event, the costs incurred in providing the feed to other free to air TV licensees and the licensee’s market share based on an independent assessment organised by the Ministry.
Moving forward for new bidding of rights, all free to air licensees must make a combined bid to the owner or rights holder of the license of the programme or event.
A subscription television licensee who wishes to broadcast the Designated Event must make a combined bid with the free to air TV licensees.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the events they have deemed as Designated Events are the General Elections, National Budget Address, Parliamentary Proceedings, State funerals, Rugby World Cup 7s and 15s, Rugby League World Cup, IRB 7s Series, FIFA World Cup, Netball World Cup, Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Pacific Games, Mini Pacific Games and the Coca-Cola Games.
Meanwhile the decree states that the Minister may, upon receipt of an application in writing from a licensee and following consultation with the Prime Minister, exempt the licensee from broadcasting a Designated Event if the Minister is satisfied that the broadcast of the event is not commercially practicable for the licensee.
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