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Barbadian consumers are being asked to pay substantially more for television coverage of the West Indies cricket tour of Zimbabwe and Kenya than any other Caribbean viewers.

That was the charge from chairman of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Senator John Williams, who said yesterday that Caribbean Sports Television Network (CSTN) was asking Barbadians to pay more than viewers in Trinidad and Tobago or Jamaica, and as much as 50 per cent more than one other island.

Over the weekend, Prime Minister Owen Arthur told the Daily Nation he had made it clear, based on information he had received, that taxpayers' money should not be used to help anyone take advantage of Barbadians and that CBC should not pay them one red cent in such circumstances.

Williams, explaining that he was speaking without access to his files, said: I am amazed at the way they are attempting to treat Barbadians in this matter. I am also surprised at the reasons they have been giving.

You can't tell me there is fairness in a system in which Barbados, with a population of 250 000, is asked to pay the same amount as Trinidad with a million-and-a-half, and Jamaica with more than two million.

They clearly believe that Barbadians can pay more and so are charging more.

We are aware that in one case the price that one small island is being asked to pay, in real terms, is 50 per cent less than what they have quoted us. If population is not to be a consideration, how do they explain this smaller quote?

However, Selby Browne, chief executive officer of CSTN, a British Virgin Islands-registered company with an office in Trinidad, denied they asked CBC to pay more than the others, charging instead that CBC insulted them by responding to their offer with a take-it-or-leave- it attitude.

He said they offered to provide Barbadian radio stations with cricket coverage at US$500 per day for 17 days and not one station found the offer acceptable.

That's not even the cost of an airline ticket to Zimbabwe and they felt it was too much, he added.

In the case of television, Browne added, since the CBC controlled the free-to-air, pay-per-view and cable markets, CSTN approached the corporation, but was told it was not prepared to pay more than US$100 per hour for 136 hours of coverage over 17 days.

In contrast, the Trinidad station taking the feed is paying in excess of US$300 per hour, Browne added.

While the CSTN boss declined to give further figures, a source said CBC had been asked to pay US$35 000 (US$2 000 per day) for a free-to- air package for Channel 8.

Meanwhile, the CBC chairman explained they were still willing to do business with CSTN if it came with an offer that was fair and could be equated with what other islands were being asked to pay.

While we would be prepared to pay if they came with a price that made sense, Williams added, it has to be clearly understood that under the present circumstances it would be most irresponsible of the corporation to accept such terms.

Similarly, Browne said: We are not unreasonable people and believe an offer to pay us around $257 an hour could be discussed, but we are offended by this take-it-or-leave- it attitude. You are not talking to me when you use that language.

Our view is that sports is an industry with significant employment potential, but all the players have to step up to the plate and do their part, and that includes the media of the region.

But if they don't want to pay for cricket, then it is their decision to make.

© The Barbados Nation