Indonesian fans of the English Premier League will no longer be able to watch games on Free-to-Air television or even through exisiting Pay-TV accounts on the countries established but limited cable television and satellite delivered systems. Instead, the games will only be able to be viewed on channels carried by Pay-TV newcomer Astro from Malaysia. "We have a business deal with EPL's rights holder and we have no authority to resell the rights to local TV stations. Everything business-wise must be in line with the contract," Vice President for Corporate Affairs at PT Direct Vision's Astro Indonesia, Halim Mahfudz, told The Jakarta Post.
Astro on Tuesday was granted the right to broadcast Premiership matches in Indonesia. Through ESPN, Star Sports, Goal TV1 and Goal TV2 channels, it will broadcast all 370 matches. "We will run most of the matches live but we will have to delay some due to parallel fixtures. We will also repeat some interesting matches for those who miss them. Our basic idea by bringing EPL into the country is to give Indonesian people access to watch the league. That's why we are also thinking about how to give Indonesians more chances to watch EPL matches through various programs, such as nonton bareng," Mahfudz said, referring to special events organized by the rights holder where groups of football fans can watch matches on a giant screen.
Local TV stations will still be able to air matches from other European leagues. Trans7, for example, will begin airing Italian league matches starting later this month. Trans7, previously TV7, had held the rights to broadcast the EPL since 2003. "We didn't take it (the EPL rights) as the price was simply too costly for us," Trans7 communications manager Anita Wulandari told the Post. "We wouldn't be able to cover the cost of buying the rights even if we sold all the advertising spots, combined with other income from sponsors."
Astro on Tuesday was granted the right to broadcast Premiership matches in Indonesia. Through ESPN, Star Sports, Goal TV1 and Goal TV2 channels, it will broadcast all 370 matches. "We will run most of the matches live but we will have to delay some due to parallel fixtures. We will also repeat some interesting matches for those who miss them. Our basic idea by bringing EPL into the country is to give Indonesian people access to watch the league. That's why we are also thinking about how to give Indonesians more chances to watch EPL matches through various programs, such as nonton bareng," Mahfudz said, referring to special events organized by the rights holder where groups of football fans can watch matches on a giant screen.
Local TV stations will still be able to air matches from other European leagues. Trans7, for example, will begin airing Italian league matches starting later this month. Trans7, previously TV7, had held the rights to broadcast the EPL since 2003. "We didn't take it (the EPL rights) as the price was simply too costly for us," Trans7 communications manager Anita Wulandari told the Post. "We wouldn't be able to cover the cost of buying the rights even if we sold all the advertising spots, combined with other income from sponsors."