Free-to-air broadcaster TVB submitted a last-minute bid to the International Olympic Committee for rights for the 2012 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, according to the China Daily newspaper.
Pay-television operator i-Cable has the rights for the Olympics in Hong Kong, and is obliged to allow at least 200 hours of the Olympics to be shown on free-to-air television. However it has so far failed to secure a free-to-air sublicensing deal. Negotiations with TVB and ATV have encountered a number of problems.
TVB said it was willing to make a “reasonable payment” to acquire the rights, adding that its proposal has the backing of rival free-to-air broadcaster ATV. TVB said that if its bid is successful it will work with ATV to produce and broadcast the Olympics events and related programmes. It promised to split programming equally between the broadcasters’ two English-language channels, Pearl and World.
TVB said in a statement: “With only two weeks left before the opening of the Olympic Games, TVB hopes the IOC can make a decision as soon as possible to meet the demands of Hong Kong residents to watch the games on free television, and also benefit the TV station, making related preparation work as early as possible to provide qualified programmes to the residents.”