Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 19, 2012 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom
Millions of persons will this year fulfill their lifelong ambition of attending an Olympic Games. For many in the stadiums in London later this year, it may be their only chance ever of witnessing live an Olympic Games.
For four billion others scattered around the globe, this once in a lifetime opportunity will not be theirs. But they will still be happy to view the many events on television.
Among the four billion viewers keen on seeing this year’s Olympics will be tens of thousands of Guyanese in Guyana who hope to be glued to their television sets to witness Usain Bolt sprinting again into the record books and towards legendary fame. The Jamaican sprinter has already signaled that he would like to lower the world record for the 100 meters race to 9.40 seconds, a phenomenal feat if achieved.
Tens of thousands of television viewers will be hoping to be around to cheer him right across the finish line from the comforts of their sitting rooms. Or so they hope!
There is now the real possibility that tens of thousands of ordinary Guyanese may not be able to see the Olympic Games on television. If the AFC has its way, the National Communications Network (NCN) will see a cut in the subsidy provided by the government and this will mean no Olympics on television.
In fact, they are not going to be able to see more than the Olympic Games. The coverage of the Indian Premier League and other international cricket coverage is likely to be affected since without a government subsidy, the state-owned television network will be unable to afford the cost of bringing coverage of the Olympics Games, the Indian Premier League or coverage of international cricket.
Corporate sponsorship is not sufficient to bring live telecast of these major sporting events. The only reason why Guyanese have been able to afford these events is because of the significant outlay that is provided to NCN by the government.
As such, if the AFC has its way and chops the subsidy for NCN to the point whereby the corporation has to make a choice between workers and coverage of international events, NCN is likely to side with its workers and therefore coverage of international sporting events will not be aired.
This will affect mainly ordinary Guyanese who cannot afford cable television. The rich and those in parliament who have cable and dish services in their homes are not going to be affected. They will see the Olympic Games because they can afford to pay for cable and dish rights, but for the small man who either cannot afford such services or has no access to such services, there is no reprieve.
There will be no coverage because the cost of television rights for most of these events is so prohibitive that corporate sponsorship cannot cover this cost and without the subsidy from government, there can be no coverage.
When the people in some areas complain about the programming of NCN, they must appreciate that NCN programming also includes coverage of major sporting events which private television stations would not be able to bring to them because sponsorship simply cannot cover the cost.
So while some persons in some areas are worried about being bombarded with government produced programmes, and therefore would want to see an end to the state-owned monopoly in their areas, the reality is that it is this very state monopoly that allows them to see IPL free, test cricket free, World Cup Cricket free, 20/20 World Cup free, FIFA World Cup football free and hopefully the Olympic Games free.
Without NCN, they would not be able to see all these major sporting events as well as certain sitcoms free.
Ideally it would be good if NCN did not require a government subsidy. Ideally, it would be good if NCN can be run strictly on a commercial basis with the sale of airtime and advertisements covering its expenses, future expansion plans and still allow the company to make a small profit.
The reality however is that this cannot happen because almost every month there is some major sporting event which the public wants to see. And to bring these sporting events requires the government sinking millions each month into the NCN. This year, a little more will be required because the rights to the Olympic Games do not come cheap.
Ironically the opposition itself wants greater coverage of parliament and particularly more coverage of the presentation by opposition members. This too has to be subsidized because who is going to sponsor the parliamentary round-up? No company is going to sponsor the debates in parliament. If the government subsidy is removed, then GINA will not be able to pay NCN to air coverage of the parliamentary debates.
The opposition therefore has to cease its wildness and reckless actions. It is behaving like bulls in a China shop, proposing cuts without seriously considering the consequences, especially for the poor man.
Television is the poor man’s entertainment. And to deny the poor man the right to see international cricket, international football and the forthcoming Olympic Games is a slight that the poor man will never forget.
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews delivered a stellar all-round performance to lead her team to a commanding 113-run victory over Pakistan Women in the first One Day...Kaieteur News – For years, the disciples of Bharrat Jagdeo have woven a narrative of economic success during his tenure... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]