T

he Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) is looking for a new broadcast deal to air this season’s Indonesian soccer league. The PSSI mentioned the MNC (Media Nusantara Citra) Group a potential future partner. However, ANTV still has a 10-year broadcast contract with the PSSI that began in 2007.

“We will have a further meeting with the [MNC Group] team to talk about naming rights, promotions and live shows on Oct. 15, because the kick off is very near,” PT Liga Prima Indonesia Chief Executive Officer, Wijayanto, told reporters on Wednesday.

Wijayanto said that these three points were most important in order to produce a final decision on which television station had won the rights to air the competition.

PT Liga Prima will be the managing company of the upcoming league.

Earlier in the day, the PSSI reportedly met with the MNC Group to sign a memorandum of understanding over airing rights, but the MNC Group denied any such signing.

“There has been no signing yet… MNC, indeed, has offered the best value [in price]…but we will wait for [PSSI chairman] Johar [Arifin Husin] for the signing,” added Wijayanto.

“We don’t want to sell a cheap league. We are committed to giving the best value for clubs. [The MNC Group] has said that it can air up to 400 matches in a season…but we will have another meeting to clear things up,” said Wijayanto.

Separately, ANTV management has planned a legal move in response to a possible new deal between the MNC Group and the PSSI.

ANTV’s sports manager, Yusuf Ibrahim, said that ANTV still owned the airing rights because the TV station is part way through a 10-year deal with the PSSI.

“We are preparing to take a legal step, but we will first study the draft, which we have heard is being discussed between the PSSI and the MNC Group,” Yusuf told reporters via telephone.

The PSSI reportedly claimed that ANTV had been uncooperative in terms of discussing how the future partnership would air league matches, which will feature 24 clubs.

ANTV’s sports deputy director, Reva Deddy Utama, denied the allegation, saying that ANTV had shown initiative and cooperation.

“It was us who had the initiative to hold a meeting with the PSSI [to talk about a new contract value]. We certainly don’t have an obligation to participate in bidding because we own the broadcast rights.

“We are open to discussion of reviewing the contract because we know the league will have more matches and clubs, which means a possible upgrade in contract value. But on paper, we still own the rights to air six more seasons. We have even handed over the down payment,” said Reva.

ANTV also requested the PSSI to deliver a fixed competition schedule, including changes within the league, so that the renewed contract could be finalized.

“We studied the schedule, but we found so many errors. It is impossible to hold the season in only seven months with so many matches…that will be organized in many cities nationwide. The last thing we did was to ask the PSSI to make a better schedule,” Reva added.

On ANTV’s statement, Wijayanto said that he would not worry about any legal move.