Viewing pleasure ruined by absence of Nicam

Slighted, cold-shouldered, brushed aside?

I still can't quite come up with the word to describe it. But having endured hours of Mandarin-only commentary on Monday night on the first day of the fabulous Wimbledon fortnight, I felt extremely let down.

While I commend Star TV for securing the rights to broadcast this year's competition, I find it just mind-boggling that the Nicam option can be completely omitted, so that viewers are just force-fed Mandarin.

In past years, at least viewers could call up Star Sport's technical services and have them send over a technician to activate the Nicam facility. This time round, they cannot even be bothered with that.

What good is it for the network to spend all that money to secure broadcasting rights when the paying subscribers can't understand a word that is being said?

It can't possibly be that much of a hassle, administratively or monetarily, to provide an English commentary through Nicam.

This blatant disregard for viewers' choice is preposterous and offensive. Failure to deliver a language option, such as Nicam, just shows the ineptness of the network's decision-makers.

Star TV may blame the distributor for not providing an alternative language facility.

However, TVB Pearl also shows live Wimbledon matches, albeit the semi-finals and finals only, and it has Nicam. I would rather wait for Pearl's broadcast than continue to pay for some second-rate product.

ANDY YANNE

Fortress Hill