H

otels and cafes in Jakarta are set to lure soccer enthusiasts with their public broadcasts of the soccer World Cup, which will run from June 11 to July 11 in South Africa.

All 64 matches will air live on RCTI and sister channel, Global TV.

PT Electronic City (EC) Entertainment, the authorized media rights licensee, has set fees ranging from Rp 3 to 10 million for commercialized public viewing at hotels, cafes, restaurants, malls and other entertainment venues.

A Rp 3 million fee will apply for venues with a capacity of less than 100 people, Rp 7 million for venues with a capacity of 101 to 300, and Rp 10 million for venues with a capacity of 301 to 500.

"A special fee will apply for venues with a capacity of over 500. For example, a cafe with a capacity of 1,000 will pay up to Rp 30 million," Joseph S. Darmawan, a project specialist from tabloid Bola's marketing communication department, said.

Bola has been authorized to coordinate the program nationwide.

Joseph said they have notified around 500 entertainment venues across the country - 300 in Jakarta - of the policy.

They expect 1,000 venues to join in the scheme.

"As sole licensee, EC Entertainment will take legal action against any violations, with fines of more than Rp 10 million," Joseph said, adding that sanctions were still under discussion.

Interested parties have until April 12 to register and pay the fees, while non-commercial public-viewing activities are exempt from paying fees.

The fee is considered more affordable than during the 2006 World Cup, when fees ranged from Rp 30 million to Rp 100 million, according to MU Cafe.

The cafe, themed after English Premier League side Manchester United, frequently shows soccer telecasts such as the World Cup, the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.

"Four years ago, we paid Rp 35 to 40 million in fees," Enny Pusparini, MU Cafe's assistant marketing and communication manager, told The Jakarta Post.

She said the cafe, which has a capacity of 1,000 visitors, hosted 700 soccer fans on the final day of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Visitors paid a Rp 75,000 cover charge for regular matches, and Rp 125,000 to Rp 150,000 for semifinals and finals.

"The cover charge for the World Cup will be higher than for the English Premier League, as it's only once every four years."

MU Cafe's cover charge for English Premier League regular matches this year is Rp 80,000, Rp 100,000 for big matches.

Despite welcoming less than 200 visitors during the World Cup telecast in its ballroom four years ago, the four-star Acacia Hotel in Kramat Raya, Central Jakarta, also agreed with the fee.