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TVRI to air Beijing Olympics live, free
Good news for Indonesian sports fans
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Good news for Indonesian sports fans. After missing live coverage of badminton player Taufik Hidayat's gold medal exploits at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Indonesians will be able to watch the Beijing Olympics next month live and free, after state-owned TVRI acquired the broadcast rights.
"Yes, we will air the Games," TVRI spokesperson Meggy Theresia Rares told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
"Tomorrow (Tuesday) we will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU)," Meggy said, referring to the organization in charge of the Games broadcast in 28 Asian countries.
She declined to say how much TVRI had paid for the rights or to provide any other details, promising more information would be forthcoming after the agreement was signed.
ABU director for sports John Barton sent a text message to the Post confirming TVRI had acquired the rights.
According to Barton, each broadcaster with rights to the Games will enjoy privileges, including "programming, space at the International Broadcast Center and so on", during the world's top sporting event.
Before TVRI stepped in, it appeared Indonesia would once again go without Olympic coverage because none of the privately owned stations was interested in paying the pricey broadcast rights.
Privately owned RCTI was the last Indonesian broadcaster to provide free coverage of the Games, during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In 2004, only a few subscribers to pay-TV Kabelvision were able to enjoy the quadrennial event.
Earlier, Indonesia Olympic Council official Rosihan Arsyad said the broadcast rights were valued at US$1.5 million. This price was reportedly later cut to $1.25 million.
Indonesia's Olympians welcomed Monday's news.
"It's great. Hopefully, the entire nation can watch and therefore boost our morale during the Games," said shuttler Markis Kido, who paired with Hendra Setiawan in the men's doubles to win last year's World Championships in Kuala Lumpur.
Another Olympian, sprinter Suryo Agung Wibowo, said he was happy his family would be able to watch him compete.
"My family along with all Indonesian people will be able to watch our hard work," said the winner in the men's 100 and 200 meters at the Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, last year.
"The public will also get a different view of the news, besides that in the newspapers," he said.
Indonesia will dispatch 24 athletes to Beijing, where they will compete in seven sports, including badminton, weightlifting, swimming and track and field.
