IB Sports was initially asking for $3 million for the rights for Korea’s matches, up on the $2 million that the networks had paid for the inaugural tournament in 2006. It later reduced this to $2.5 million, but the networks refused to increase an offer of $1.3 million, citing the economic crisis and the depreciation of the Won against the dollar.
IB Sports sold other live rights to cable sports broadcaster Xports, web rights to mgoon.com and agreed a deal for mobile rights to help cover its loss.