Picture still unclear over English Premier League soccer coverage in Hong Kong as PCCW's Now TV announces deal
Uncertainty remains over the roll-out arrangements and viewing fees for English Premier League soccer matches in Hong Kong in coming seasons, despite Now TV's announcement of a final deal to show games.
Now TV, a pay television service provider operated by PCCW, said it had secured live broadcasts of the games from the 2016 to 2019 seasons after clinching an exclusive agreement with the "new Hong Kong rights holder".
The rights holder was not named when Now TV disclosed details of the deal yesterday, but mainland internet firm LeTV confirmed this week it had bought the broadcasting rights for the city. Now TV had held the rights since 2013.
LeTV was conspicuously absent in Now TV's sales literature, two days after a joint announcement by the companies of an agreement on televising the world's most famous soccer league. Now TV declined to reveal how much it was paying its partner for the broadcasts.
Janice Lee, managing director of PCCW Media, said Now TV would offer its customers an integrated "true 4K" appliance which would enable subscribers to have a better viewing experience. 4K is a video resolution standard designed for digital cinema and computer graphics. It is said to support higher image quality and more detailed pictures.
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Lee did not state clearly whether Now TV would raise monthly tariffs, nor did she say whether the pay television station, facing increasing competition, was under pressure to cut prices.
