ABU gets 2014 Commonwealth Games broadcasting rights
The ABU has been awarded the rights to provide television coverage of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The Games organisers – Glasgow 2014 – say that as well as providing free-to-air coverage for the Asian Commonwealth nations of Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Singapore and Mauritius, the ABU can provide coverage to broadcasters in the region’s non-Commonwealth countries including Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Myanmar, North Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor Leste, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
This latest agreement adds to existing broadcast deals for the Games, such as with TAJ Television for the Indian subcontinent and Channel 10 for Australia.
Games organisers predict Glasgow 2014 will be the biggest multi-sport event Scotland has ever hosted and around 4,500 athletes from 71 nations and territories will take part in 17 sports over 11 days of competition from 23 July to 3 August. They estimate a total audience of 1.5 billion worldwide will tune in to the event, including the opening and closing ceremonies.
Announcing the agreement, Glasgow 2014’s Chief Executive David Grevemberg said: “We are delighted that the excitement of the Games will reach so many millions of people, including now a number of countries who are outside of the Commonwealth, but whose public will appreciate the opportunity to sample world-class sport across a range of events.”
ABU Secretary-General Dr Javad Mottaghi said the Union had a long association with the Commonwealth Games and was delighted to continue that association with Glasgow 2014.
“The ABU will deliver a multi-platform coverage that will expand the scope and reach of the Commonwealth Games throughout Asia creating new audiences in new countries,” he said.
“It will also please the many Commonwealth expats who live and work in Asia and rely on the ABU and its members to provide coverage of the Games.”
Mike Hooper, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said he was delighted that the ABU was continuing its long relationship with the Commonwealth Games.
“The 2014 Commonwealth Games will provide the ABU with a wide array of fantastic sporting moments that will once more thrill, excite and inspire millions of sports fans across Asia,” he added.