Free-to-air networks ATV and TVB were refusing to cave in to demands by i-Cable, the World Cup rights-holder, that they carry its coverage in full – advertisements, commentary and all. Public and government pressure was building on the broadcasters to do a deal before yesterday's announcement.
The deal is not the perfect result for Hong Kong football fans – ATV and TVB have only agreed to carry the matches on their digital-terrestrial channels. Digital-terrestrial peentration stands at around 1.2 million homes. i-Cable has around 1 million subscribers.
ATV and TVB will show the opening match, both semi-finals and the final, plus highlights and magazine programmes.
Local press have criticised the deal for shutting out free World Cup coverage to the poorest people in Hong Kong, who don't have digital-terrestrial. But the government has congratulated the broadcasters on the deal.
