VietNamNet Bridge – The value of this contract is much lower than the number of $1.4 million that the local media mentioned in these days.

Vietnam fans may miss AFF Cup

The national Vietnam Television station (VTV) has reached an agreement with Dentsu Alpha to hold the broadcasting right of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012. This tournament is of great significance to the Vietnamese fans.

A representative of VTV asserted: "We have successfully negotiated with the copyright holder of AFF Suzuki Cup 2012. The amount of money that VTV spent is quite high, but it still lower than the initial number offered by the partner ".

According to Football Plus newspaper, there is different information about the contract value. A source said that Dentsu Alpha sold the television rights of AFF Suzuki Cup at the price of $700,000. However, sources from VTV said that the contract value is about $900,000.

The difference of the numbers is understood that there are still side terms to be mutually agreed. However, it is able to confirm that VTV paid less than $1 million for the right to broadcast all the matches of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012.

A source close to the Dentsu Alpha said: "Although being sold at high prices, but the firm that holds television rights of AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 has almost no interest."

A representative of the VTV said: "VTV authorities have tried their best to buy the television rights of AFF Cup 2012 with the acceptable price. We utilized all of our advantages to not being “pressed” by the partner. Moreover, Vietnamese broadcasters are no longer competing to buy TV rights so it was easier for VTV to negotiate the contract".

"We want to buy it at low price but we also have to think according to the rules of the market. The TV rights of such tournaments as the AFF Suzuki Cup is a luxury product, but we can not deny because it is very meaningful to Vietnamese football fans," he said.

S. Tung