CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

The threat of legal action and a lack of subscription from regional media houses have virtually guaranteed there will be no television or radio coverage of the Test matches of the current West Indies cricket tour to Sri Lanka.

Gary Allen, chief operating officer of the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), made this announcement yesterday in a broadcast beamed live across the region.

Radio stations were asked to make their commitment to this process and to covering at least a half of the approximate US$150 000 that the radio coverage would cost by Wednesday afternoon, Allen said.

Only Radio Jamaica, NBC 705 of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Corporation had committed to the package.

The Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation and Starcom Network said they could not. Guyana asked for a reduction of costs and Trinidad Broadcasting said they could not pay the full amount.

Allen also said the CMC received a letter on Thursday from the attorneys for WSG Nimbus, the original holders of broadcast rights, saying they still had a claim and would take legal action if the CMC entered into an agreement with Taj Sports. The former recently entered into an agreement with the Sri Lanka Cricket Board of Control (SLCBC).

In view of all this, it is clear that now it is unlikely, more than likely, we will undertake any coverage of the Test matches starting on Tuesday, Allen said.

However, there is still hope for the One-Day Internationals.

Earlier today, we involved ourselves in discussions and partial negotiations for radio and television coverage of the One-Day Triangular series which starts on December 8.

We think we will have enough time to conclude that and make an announcement sometime next week as to whether we will go forward with that, he said.

Allen added that the CMC had asked Taj and the SLCBC for indemnification from any legal action, and the request was being considered.

However, if the legal issue was solved, and the money for rights was not paid, there would still be no coverage.

The CMC would not knowingly take a financial bloodbath on this tour, we would not go forward unless the costs are covered. This organisation cannot operate in a reckless manner.

We would have to have costs covered before we put anyone in a flight or sign any contract to receive cricket, Allen said.

The CMC is still US$65 000 short of the financial requirements for radio coverage and a commitment of US$300 000 would be needed for television coverage. So far, the commitments are less than US$100 000.

Allen said if these costs were met by Monday, coverage would be possible, starting with the second Test.

© The Barbados Nation