'RCTI' sole local TV channel for 2002 World Cup soccer matches
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
RCTI, the privately run television station, announced on Wednesday that it would broadcast live 45 of the 64 soccer matches at World Cup 2002, which will be jointly hosted by South Korea and Japan.
"The other 19 fixtures will be aired in a delayed program format," said Wisnu Hadi, the station's director, at a press conference.
The delayed programs will be aired at 1 a.m. said Wisnu, who added that the programming difference would be made to accommodate cigarette ads, which are not, by regulation, allowed to be aired until after 9.30 p.m.
Wisnu said that the World Cup 2002 broadcast package was worth a total of US$5 million (Rp 52.5 billion). The deal was finalized two years ago with Germany's Kirch Media.
In addition to the state-run TVRI, there are nine other private TV stations that operate alongside RCTI. Some of them have joined Indonesia's airwaves only recently.
During the last three editions of the World Cup, the broadcasting slots were shared among only a few of them. This time, however, RCTI appears set to be the sole provider, leaving the others in the onlooking seats.
Previously, RCTI had offered to share the package with at least three other stations. But negotiations seem to have broken down amid speculation that the nation's first private station put up the highest bid.
However, Wisnu cited a "compromise with sponsors" as being behind the decision to leave the package unshared.
"We had offered the package to three other stations, and they expressed interest and looked financially eligible for it," he said. "But on further discussion with the sponsors, in the end we decided that it would be more beneficial to run the program ourself."
He declined to identify the three other stations.
What appears likely to be the world's biggest soccer spectacle will start on May 31 and run through June 30.
In all, 32 nations from around the world will be represented in the competition, with teams in 64 matches to be played in 20 cities, including ten each in South Korea and Japan.
The participants are divided into eight groups. Reigning champion France will launch its defense campaign with a match against West African minnow Senegal in Seoul.
The opening match is scheduled for 8.30 p.m. local time. With a time difference of less than two hours, Indonesian soccer enthusiasts can watch their TV program earlier at 6.30 p.m.
RCTI, which was founded in 1989, has seemed to make the soccer extravaganza, which takes place every four years, its premiere business and entertainment program since 1990.
Unlike during the three previous editions, when the competition was held in Europe or the Western Hemisphere, sports fans will not have to stay up past midnight, as the matches are staged during times that will coincide with afternoons and evenings in Jakarta.
To give viewers previews and reviews of the games, a number of people have been tapped as commentators. A taped commentary featuring world-class soccer figures has been in the works.
The commentary may come from Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson, along with former AC Milan aces from the Netherlands Ruud Gulit and Frank Rikjkaard.
"The most likely choice is Alex Ferguson. We have spoken with his agency," said Irwan Hendarmin, RCTI's sports manager.
"Gulit and Rijkaard are optional -- their countryman Marco van Basten could have been another choice, but he decided not to get involved," he said.