Left Field: Cheap television deal a false economy
Hong Kong Premier League's money-saving move to put games on ATV sends wrong signals about its ambitions and inclusiveness
The new Hong Kong Premier League which got under way last weekend has already been blown offside following its decision not to go with the bigger of the two local television stations in the running to become the official broadcaster.
I have no personal preference between TVB and ATV. But sometimes it is better to spend a few dollars more to gain more publicity, especially if you are trying to sell a new product, which is what the Hong Kong Football Association is trying to do with its rebranded Hong Kong Premier League.
If this is the case, why didn't they opt for TVB which has a bigger reach than its counterpart? It is believed that during peak hours, 80 per cent of Hong Kong is watching TVB. For an extra HK$1.2 million, the Premier League could have been broadcast on the more popular channel.
Unlike the world over, the English Premier League for instance, where the game gets money from television companies, the boot is on the other foot in Hong Kong
Before the decision was taken, new South China boss Wallace Cheung Kwok-yung said: "It is very important to make the Premier League known in the community if we want to see it become successful." He was a firm advocate for TVB.
Yet the HKFA and the rest of the clubs went against his wishes simply because it meant saving money. ATV had quoted a fee of around HK$2.6 million, while TVB had asked for HK$3.8 million. Unlike the world over, the English Premier League for instance, where the game gets money from television companies, the boot is on the other foot in Hong Kong.
The HKFA and the clubs seem to have scored an own goal. It is a short-sighted approach - paying less to be seen less. In its infancy, the Premier League will benefit from every bit of exposure.
The bulk of the cost has been split between the "Big Four" - South China, Kitchee, Eastern and Sun Pegasus, who each paid around HK$500,000. The remaining five - district teams Yuen Long, Tai Po and Wong Tai Sin plus Rangers and Yokohama - picked up the rest of the tab.
