Free-to-air TV 'best to promote HK game'
FA decides switch is best opportunity for fostering interest in new Premier League
Soccer fans will be able to watch the new Hong Kong Premier League on television, for the first time in four seasons without paying any fee.
After working with Now TV, a pay-TV operator, for the past three seasons, the Hong Kong Football Association will go back to a free-to-air network as their official broadcaster and is likely to come to terms with TVB.
The HKFA and clubs paid close to HK$7 million last season to Now TV as the official broadcaster. However, the clubs questioned whether a pay-TV channel could achieve the target of promoting soccer in Hong Kong and were also concerned over the high charges.
We think it is a question of promoting the new league and therefore we want to go for the one which is more effective and has more promotion value
Proposals made by the two free-to-air networks - TVB and ATV - were presented at a meeting of the clubs yesterday. Although TVB is asking for more money than its opposition, the dominant broadcaster is the preferred choice.
"We think it is a question of promoting the new league and therefore we want to go for the one which is more effective and has more promotion value," said South China's new convenor Wallace Cheung Kwok-yung.
"It is very important to make the league known in the community if we want to see the Premier League become successful.
"South China have been a keen supporter of Hong Kong soccer and we will try our best to provide the required financial resources."