Fiji Television Limited has welcomed the joint bid process for television rights for major events proposed by Communications Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Nouzab Fareed, the CEO of Fijian Holdings Limited which is the majority shareholder of Fiji TV, said this proposal will assist TV stations as they have to really pay high rates for the rights of some events.
Fareed said they have exclusive TV rights for some of the events and he has to check the commercial arrangements on whether these can be shared.
It has been revealed that a new system is expected to come into effect soon to ensure that joint bids for television rights for events of national interest are sent by the three television broadcasters in the country.
The government has decided that this is the way to go forward to ensure that none of the TV stations Fiji TV, MAI TV and government broadcaster FBC TV lose out on showing events of national interest.
The exclusive television rights for major sporting events are determined through the bids sent by individual TV stations. This includes the amount the station will pay for the rights.
Sayed-Khaiyum said in the national interest, joint bids should be sent where cost sharing will assist in getting all the TV stations to air the events.
Fiji TV currently has exclusive rights for the IRB 7s series, Rugby League World Cup, the Super Rugby, the Rugby Championships and the next Rugby World Cup tournament.
When questioned on the existing rights, Sayed-Khaiyum said these issues will be addressed after the listenership and viewership survey.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
