Dark horse snags Thai World Cup deal

<p>BANGKOK: An upstart company has taken Thailand's TV industry by </p><p>surprise by snatching the country's live broadcast rights to World Cup </p><p>2002 and 2006 matches. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>In past years, TV Pool of Thailand (TPT), a cartel of free TV stations </p><p>established to negotiate jointly for the broadcasting of major sports </p><p>and other events of national significance, had enjoyed the right to </p><p>decide which stations broadcast which World Cup matches. But Tospak </p><p>Communication Agency came from behind and negotiated the sale of the </p><p>broadcast rights from the owner, Kirch Media of Germany. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Tospak is a new firm chaired by a former army general and backed </p><p>financially by the owner of Chang Beer and Sang Som whiskey. It intends </p><p>to buy airtime from TPT to broadcast the games and manage ad sales by </p><p>itself. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The 2002 package reportedly cost US$7.5 million, double the cost </p><p>for the 1998 event. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>With partial sponsorship from Chang Beer and Sang Som, the company </p><p>intends to broadcast all 64 matches without commercial interruptions </p><p>during gameplay, according to Tospak's managing director Worawoot </p><p>Rojanapanich. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Tospak is now negotiating with TPT to decide which stations will </p><p>broadcast the matches. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Worawoot denied claims by a Government official that the state-run </p><p>Channel 11 would be the core station in broadcasting the 2002 </p><p>matches. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Meanwhile, Thai TV, a free cable service that is not a member of TPT, </p><p>has announced it will be broadcasting some of the matches. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Live World Cup matches will mark a major step forward for Thai TV, which </p><p>debuted in October under the operation of World Star TV. Currently, Thai </p><p>TV's main source of income is the sale of the antennas required to </p><p>receive the service. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>