Start World Cup broadcast talks earlier

Why is the World Cup not on the list of sporting events that must be made available for free-to-air TV to acquire ("World Cup TV broadcasts: MDA replies"; last Wednesday)?

The tournament is on the "protected" list in Britain, if the Media Development Authority wants to make comparisons with European countries.

It should also make comparisons with countries in Asia, especially those that, like Singapore, have never qualified for the World Cup Finals.

Why are countries like Indonesia, India, the Philippines and Cambodia able to air all the matches for free?

Why can't more than four matches be broadcast on free-to-air TV here?

If the late negotiations with Fifa resulted in the high prices, why can't the telcos be made to start the talks earlier?

India's pay-TV channel Sony Six has already acquired the broadcast rights for the 2018 World Cup, and the United States' Fox and Telemundo channels secured rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in 2011.

Why is it that, every four years, we have wait till almost the last minute to secure the broadcast rights, and then pay prices that are so much higher than those in the rest of the world?

Advin Kwok Ching Hoong

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