RCTI secures Euro 2004 broadcast package

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

RCTI has secured television rights to the Euro 2004 soccer tournament in Portugal for an undisclosed sum.

"We are proud to announce that RCTI is the official TV partner of Euro 2004 after we won the bidding," RCTI director Harry Tanusoedibyo told a media conference here on Wednesday.

Harry said that RCTI, one of 11 television channels in Indonesia, had had to compete with other five stations. Competition was reduced to just two in July.

Harry refused to say how much the winning bid was worth, "pending our official financial report."

RCTI, established in 1989, spent US$5 million on exclusive rights to broadcast the 2002 Soccer World Cup.

The private station sparked widespread controversy with its screening of the World Cup, attempting to prevent a number of entertainment venues from screening matches unless they paid for the privilege.

Irwan Hendarmin,RCTI head of sports, said it would not prevent entertainment venues, including bars and restaurants, from screening games "as long as they notify us" first.

"We deserve to know who will be involved in or who is behind screening the program. This is to protect our sponsors," Irwan said.

Euro 1996 and Euro 2000 were also shown live on RCTI, but not exclusively.

Harry said the European soccer governing body UEFA and Dentsu Inc., the Asian distributor for Euro 2004, had imposed a policy of a single broadcaster.

Euro 2004, from June 12 to July 4, will feature 16 countries playing a total of 31 matches.

"We will air 27 matches live. The remaining four will be replays because the games are being played at the same time as other matches."

RCTI will also air, live or delayed, some of the qualifying matches, and a live broadcast of when the draw is made.