Macau Cable TV drops EPL games

Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil, right, challenges for the ball with Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva during the EPL match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates stadium in London, Monday, Aug. 24

Macau Cable Television (MCTV) may not be airing any more English Premier League (EPL) matches in the years to come unless Super Sports Media Group, the nation’s exclusive broadcast rights holder of the games, relaxes its prices, says John Chiang, chief commercial officer of the subscription television network.
Earlier this month, MCTV’s chief executive officer, Angela Lam In Nie, said that the two parties were locked in a standoff over the cost of the rights. Chiang told the Times yesterday that the cable television supplier missed not only last year’s matches, but also this year’s, as the two companies were “divided on the terms in the agreement.”
Chiang added that the two companies have yet to go through the details. However, the price asked for the EPL television rights, which is roughly fivefold the price charged in 2013, was the major reason behind the failed partnership. In fact, the Beijing-based broadcaster has granted even less games to MCTV at the increased price. Chiang refused to disclose more details, but stressed that the company may not be broadcasting the Barclays Premier League games in the near future unless these charges are reduced.
Staff reporter