There will again be no live TV coverage of another HSBC Sevens World Series tournament this weekend as World Rugby made it clear last week that the TV feed has to be for Fiji TV only as it has the exclusive rights for the HSBC World Sevens Series.
In their response to Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum last week, World Rugby said it can consider making the HSBC World Sevens feed available if the Fijian government is prepared to engage in immediate and constructive discussions with World Rugby, and to respect the exclusive nature of the Sevens Series Broadcast Rights while the discussions are ongoing.
World Rugby said if this occurs then the feed has to be for Fiji TV only as it has the exclusive rights for the HSBC World Sevens Series.
Meanwhile, in the Parliament session this morning, Opposition member, Tupou Draunidalo asked for a leave for the business of the house to be transacted in a different order as she wants to bring an urgent motion.
Draunidalo said her motion is if the Parliament can be adjourned to a day next week so that a bill may be introduced to repeal the Television Cross Carriage of Designated Events Decree.
The Television Cross Carriage of Designated Events Decree brought in by the Fijian government earlier this year requires all the free to air TV stations to televise designated events which include World Rugby events like the HSBC Rugby Sevens Series tournaments.
Fiji TV was the exclusive rights holder of the 2014/ 2015 HSBC Sevens Series to air the games on the free to air channel, Fiji One however under the decree they have to share the rights with the other two stations, FBC TV and Mai TV.
Draunidalo said the whole purpose is to allow Fiji to watch the South Africa 7's.
Infrastructure Minister and Leader of Government Business, Pio Tikoduadua said they have already discussed this matter last week.
The motion was defeated as 31 members opposed it, 16 gave support to the motion while three did not vote.
Speaker of Parliament, Dr Jiko Luveni said there will not be any further discussion on this motion as it has been defeated.
Stay with us for any developments on this issue.
