Broadcasters have to pay participation fees at SEA Games

Secretary General of the Olympic Council of Malaysia Secretary Dato Low Beng Choo (Source: VNA)

Hanoi, (VNA) - Eight years after the 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 25) hosted by Laos, television rights are reminded at SEA Games 29 scheduled to take place in Malaysia from August 19-30.

Dato Low Beng Choo, Secretary General of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, talked to a reporter of “The Thao Viet Nam” (Vietnam Sports) newspaper about the participation fees for broadcasting companies at SEA Games 29.

Q: Would you give us some information about Malaysia’s progress in hosting the 29th SEA Games?

A: With less than two months to go, it is all systems go for the Games. Almost all venues are ready or in the final phase. The National Sports Associations (NSAs) have done their ‘test runs’ at the respective sports events venue or will be conducting it this month or in July to ensure that everything is up and running smoothly and will see no hitches during the Games. The Malaysian SEA Games Organising Committee (MASOC) headed by the Sports Minister, the Honourable Brig. General Khairy Jamauluddin himself, has been working overtime to ensure that everything is in place to ensure a very successful Games, with the aim of making it the best Games organised. President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, HRH Prince Imran, who is also the South East Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) president as the host of the 2017 Games, has been constantly updating all members of the Federation on the progress on the readiness for the Games. We are all very excited as the Games is fast approaching and intend to put up a grand show to make it a memorable Games for everyone, especially the entire SEAGF Family, which will raise the bench mark for future Games.

Q: What are the arrangements to house athletes and officials for the Games?

A: There will be no Games Village but all athletes and officials will be housed in hotels dedicated to each contingent. In some cases because of distances, athletes of particular sports will be housed in hotels close to their venues, what we call the “sport-specific” hotels. The hotels selected are reputable hotels with track-record experience to accommodate large groups. They have also been briefed of all the requirements. All athletes and officials are assured that they will have a comfortable and enjoyable stay, with the spirit of the Games at its best in all hotels.

Q: Could you give us some information about TV rights at the 29th SEA Games? Did all countries agree to buy the TV rights? MASOC will sell TV rights for sports individually or for the entire coverage of the Games?

A: The SEAGF Broadcasting Committee chaired by HRH Prince Imran held a meeting in Kuala Lumpur, where all SEAGF members-NOC were invited to attend, for input and feedback from participating delegates on matters pertaining to broadcasting at the Sea Games.

The matters discussed and agreed were as follows: To serve as the host broadcasting organisation of all SEA Games to ensure high quality sports content to all SEAGF member countries on all form of media; To oversee the production and broadcasting of sports and events of the SEA Games on all form of media; To recommend the list of broadcasters from each SEAGF member country for approval by the SEAGF Council; To recommend the fee payable by each broadcaster for approval by the SEAGF Council.

As a start, the participation fees required to be paid are an all-in nominal sum, with the following amounts, by tier-allocation, agreed as payable by each broadcaster as participation fees prior broadcasting any sport, disciplines or events of the 29th SEA Games Kuala Lumpur 2017.

Participant Tiers will be classified in to 3 types: 5,000 USD per company (including Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam); 3,000 USD per company for Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar; and 1,000 USD/company for only Timor Leste.-VNA