JFF in Multi million dollar deal

[Sir X]

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=450 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Rights deal nears</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline>JFF, SportsMax closer to multi-million dollar TV agreement</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>KAYON RAYNOR, Observer staff reporter
Friday, January 19, 2007
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=196 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>BOXHILL... we are in discussion and pretty soon we will be making an announcement</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>Well-placed Observer sources say that Jamaica's and the Caribbean's only 24-hour sports cable channel, SportsMax, is in advanced negotiations with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) for a multi-million dollar rights deal to televise international and local club football matches to their audiences.<P class=StoryText align=justify>According to these sources, the multi-million dollar deal, which could be finalised within the next few weeks, is expected to run for approximately four years up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The deal, however, excludes the rights to broadcast Jamaica's World Cup qualifying matches, as the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) owns those rights.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The RJR Communication Group, through Television Jamaica (TVJ), currently owns the rights to broadcast the Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL), the nation's top club football competition.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=186 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>MCINTOSH... at this point there is nothing agreed and signed between Sportsmax and the JFF (Photo: Garfield Robinson)</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>TVJ's contract, it is learnt, is tied to Wray and Nephew, the title sponsors of the NPL. Wray and Nephew's current deal with the JFF, which was renewed last year, expires in 2012.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of SportsMax, Oliver McIntosh, while not denying that a deal with the JFF could be brokered soon, expressed a willingness to get more involved with Jamaica's football.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"We are discussing a number of different options and hopefully at some point soon, we will be able to come to an idea of what we want to do that meets with what's available from the JFF," McIntosh said yesterday.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"As soon as that is available for disclosure we will, but at this point there is nothing agreed and signed between Sportsmax and the JFF," he added.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Recently, JFF president Crenston Boxhill confirmed talks were taking place between the two parties.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"We are in discussion with Sportsmax and pretty soon we will be making an announcement as far as that is concerned," Boxhill told the Observer.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Asked whether a multi-million dollar deal to cover club and international football games was in the offing, McIntosh said: "Well obviously, what we (SportsMax) try to do, is try to enter into any sports content that we are carrying for a long period of time, so that we can build value out of it."<P class=StoryText align=justify>"It all depends on what is available and what level of involvement and resources we can put into it, so I'm sur

[T.K.]

RE: JFF in Multi million dollar deal

X can I ask a really really dumb question.......Does this mean that those of us in the salt mines of babylon can watch? Or is it only for JA audiences? - T.K.