Malaysian GP organizers ban TV coverage

Malaysian GP organizers ban TV coverage

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Organizers of next Sunday's Malaysian grand prix are standing by their unpopular decision to ban local TV stations from screening live coverage in an attempt to boost dismal ticket sales.

The ban covers the two days of qualifying sessions and the race itself at Sepang International Circuit.

Local TV will carry film of the race at 9:00 p.m., several hours after the finish.

Circuit chairman Basir Ismail, quoted by the New Sunday Times, acknowledged the decision was unpopular but said only about 32 percent of tickets had been sold so far.

"We spent a lot of money to stage the event and we need to sell tickets and the hospitality suites in Sepang to cover the cost," he said.

"We sold 65,000 tickets in 1999 but we have only about 30,000 sales to date. On top of that we lost MR22 million (US$5.8 million) last year," Basir was quoted as saying.

"So if Malaysians want to watch the race live they can buy a ticket and come watch it here."

Basir said Australia has a smaller population than Malaysia but 400,000 spectators turned out over three days for the season- opener in Melbourne.

The first race on the purpose-built Sepang track in 1999 was telecast live by local television stations, as was last year's event.

The Hong Kong-based Star Sports channel, available to local subscribers of a satellite TV service, is scheduled to air the race live. But the vast majority of Malaysians who do not subscribe will miss out on live action.

The circuit can accommodate a crowd of over 100,000.