The Vietnam Pay Television Association (VNPayTV) has confirmed that it will not buy, at any cost, the broadcast rights to English Premier League (EPL) football in Vietnam for three seasons from 2016 to 2019.

VNPayTV said it will not pursue purchasing the broadcast rights in case it does not agree on conditions for negotiations.

In a recent document sent to the EPL organizers, the association said it is in charge of negotiations over the broadcast rights to the three seasons in Vietnam. It said it would only agree a price which is not 20% higher than that for the seasons in 2013-2015. 

Members of the association committed not to enter into individual negotiations and let the negotiation committee work.

The association hoped the EPL organizers would influence MP& Silva, the exclusive sales representative for the EPL media rights in Vietnam, when it comes to holding negotiations.

VNPayTV said if no negotiations are held, it would stop pursuing the broadcast rights.

VNPayTV wrote to the executive manager of MP&Silva in the Asia-Pacific region after receiving the company’s response to the association’s first document dated December 14 with the same content.

MP&Silva reportedly wrote to VNPayTV and media organizations saying it is ready to negotiate with the association and other local partners provided that they respect the broadcast rights.

MP&Silva claimed some members of VNPayTV have illegally aired some EPL matches, the Italian football championship Serie A and the Spanish league La Liga whose rights are exclusively held by different TV stations in Vietnam.

VNPayTV replied that cooperation for television rights protection is its responsibility, and that it would check and request members to immediately stop infringements, if any.