Mr RIOLI - 1997-04-24
The Australia Television (ATV) guide for Asia has now been drawn up for the month of May. There will be no coverage at all of the 1997 Arafura Games. Why is ATV unable to broadcast any of the Arafura Games?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I understand Eurocam has been in contact with ATV and has offered the programs to ATV. It is a programming issue for ATV whether it picks them up or not. Negotiations are continuing. A number of broadcasts will not be going out at the time of the games, but will be delayed. This is not unusual with major sporting events, particularly on pay-TV networks. I have been advised this week that Eurocam will be producing 6 half-hour highlight packages and one 1-hour package. The 7 Network will have coverage, as will the 10 Network and North Queensland TV. The 10 Network broadcast is available to Channel 8 in the Territory. Discussions are occurring this week with Channel 8 to try to have the games coverage broadcast in Darwin. We are trying also to make arrangements with ATV and 10 or 12 other international networks.
I am advised that the broadcasts have a potential viewing audience of some 80 million people. I believe that Eurocam has done an excellent job, given the short period from when the contract was let to when the broadcasts occur. The Eurocam people have been here this week, carrying out surveys and planning the broadcasting and production of the television programs. They were pleasantly surprised with the facilities and their central location, particularly Marrara, which has significantly reduced any production complications. I am quite confident that television broadcasting of the games will be a major success and will substantially lift their profile.
Significantly higher levels of interest are being taken in the Arafura Games. I propose to speak more on that next week. Overseas telecasters of these games will include ESPN, Star TV Hong Kong, NBC Super Sports, TV New Zealand, Laos National TV, RTV Brunei, Walker Cable TV Hong Kong, TV12 Singapore and Trans-World International. As I said, negotiations are still proceeding to obtain a time slot for broadcasting on ATV. Virtually all the Asian region will be receiving the television coverage through various networks going into the area.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I understand Eurocam has been in contact with ATV and has offered the programs to ATV. It is a programming issue for ATV whether it picks them up or not. Negotiations are continuing. A number of broadcasts will not be going out at the time of the games, but will be delayed. This is not unusual with major sporting events, particularly on pay-TV networks. I have been advised this week that Eurocam will be producing 6 half-hour highlight packages and one 1-hour package. The 7 Network will have coverage, as will the 10 Network and North Queensland TV. The 10 Network broadcast is available to Channel 8 in the Territory. Discussions are occurring this week with Channel 8 to try to have the games coverage broadcast in Darwin. We are trying also to make arrangements with ATV and 10 or 12 other international networks.
I am advised that the broadcasts have a potential viewing audience of some 80 million people. I believe that Eurocam has done an excellent job, given the short period from when the contract was let to when the broadcasts occur. The Eurocam people have been here this week, carrying out surveys and planning the broadcasting and production of the television programs. They were pleasantly surprised with the facilities and their central location, particularly Marrara, which has significantly reduced any production complications. I am quite confident that television broadcasting of the games will be a major success and will substantially lift their profile.
Significantly higher levels of interest are being taken in the Arafura Games. I propose to speak more on that next week. Overseas telecasters of these games will include ESPN, Star TV Hong Kong, NBC Super Sports, TV New Zealand, Laos National TV, RTV Brunei, Walker Cable TV Hong Kong, TV12 Singapore and Trans-World International. As I said, negotiations are still proceeding to obtain a time slot for broadcasting on ATV. Virtually all the Asian region will be receiving the television coverage through various networks going into the area.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016