Sport is a very important ingredient in the programme mix of any television station, so the ABU is very active in the sports broadcasting area. Our main sports activities are:
Large sums are paid by broadcasters for the right to broadcast major sports events. The ABU negotiates these rights deals on behalf of the members and enters into contracts with the federations concerned.
There are three events that are of common interest to almost all ABU members in the region - the Summer Olympic Games, the World Football Cup and the Asian Games. Some members are also interested in the Winter Olympics and we also negotiate on their behalf.
Having secured the rights, it is then necessary for the ABU Secretariat to arrange for the stations concerned to obtain the coverage they need. This involves ensuring that they receive coverage by satellite and, for some events, producing a daily package of highlights and sending it to them by satellite.
For all major events, the ABU forms an operations group, headed by the Director of Sport in the Secretariat; the other members are technical and production experts from among the ABU member organisations. This group looks after all the arrangements during the run-up to the event and is present throughout the event itself to ensure that all members' needs are met.
Although they might have obtained the rights through the ABU, the larger ABU members send their own staff to these important sports events to produce their own coverage. The ABU assists them by arranging working space and facilities at the venues, accommodation, accreditation and other requirements.
This group is open to all ABU members interested in sports broadcasting and meets twice a year. Their discussions cover rights and facilities for events, trends in sports broadcasting, information on upcoming sports events of interest and relations with sports bodies. Often, guest speakers are invited from federations, organising committees and sports agencies. These meetings are arranged by the sports section of the Secretariat, which also handles all the documentation and reports needed.
The Secretariat maintains contact on sports matters with other broadcasting unions and major sports federations. The Head of Sport attends important international meetings on sports broadcasting and passes on relevant information to the members.
The Secretariat keeps members informed of forthcoming events of interest, other happenings in the sporting world that might have an impact on their sports programming and interesting programmes about sport they might wish to obtain.
Links:
London Olympic Games 2012
Back to Top