National station Vietnam Television (VTV) estimates for a loss of 90% of its investment if they want to win an exclusive right to broadcast all 64 football matches during the 2018 FIFA World Cup as lovers of the king sport in Vietnam desperately wait for confirmation.
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The broadcaster is in intense negotiations with Switzerland-based Infront Sports and Media AG, the official distributor of the tournament’s broadcasting rights, according to Nguyen Ha Nam, head of the editorial board at VTV.
The Vietnamese broadcaster will not try to purchase the broadcasting rights at all cost, he stressed, adding that VTV has asked some large telecom and communications companies for their assistance.
VTV has been advised not to buy the rights, if the price is exorbitant, he added
Having taken their feedback into account, VTV told the Swiss distributor about its proposed price on May 29. However, the distributor has yet to make its decision.
Earlier, the foreign distributor offered the price of US$10.3 million for the rights in Vietnam. However, VTV said it was too costly.
Myanmar and Vietnam are the only two countries of 11 in South East Asia not to have confirmed TV broadcasting. This is not the first time negotiations for broadcasting rights for major sports events have faced difficulties because of high prices.
FPT Group bought the rights for World Cup 2016 at US$2 million and the price went up to USD3.5m in 2010. The broadcasting rights for World Cup 2014 were offered at US$14 million and finally was bought by VTV at US$7 million. A figure of US$15 million has been quoted this time by the rights holder.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup is slated to kick off in Russia on June 14. According to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), more than 200 countries and territories have already negotiated broadcast rights.
![]() VTV has yet to win 2018 World Cup broadcasting rights.
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VTV has been advised not to buy the rights, if the price is exorbitant, he added
Having taken their feedback into account, VTV told the Swiss distributor about its proposed price on May 29. However, the distributor has yet to make its decision.
Earlier, the foreign distributor offered the price of US$10.3 million for the rights in Vietnam. However, VTV said it was too costly.
Myanmar and Vietnam are the only two countries of 11 in South East Asia not to have confirmed TV broadcasting. This is not the first time negotiations for broadcasting rights for major sports events have faced difficulties because of high prices.
FPT Group bought the rights for World Cup 2016 at US$2 million and the price went up to USD3.5m in 2010. The broadcasting rights for World Cup 2014 were offered at US$14 million and finally was bought by VTV at US$7 million. A figure of US$15 million has been quoted this time by the rights holder.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup is slated to kick off in Russia on June 14. According to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), more than 200 countries and territories have already negotiated broadcast rights.
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