World rugby governing body, World Rugby has maintained its stand that it has no option other than to withhold Fiji’s broadcast feed for the Dubai leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series, which is disappointing for World Rugby and Fiji rugby fans.
Following questions raised by Fijivillage on whether World Rugby has made any decisions in relation to the letters sent by the Fijian government and Fiji TV, World Rugby has said from Ireland that contrary to reports, World Rugby was not consulted by the Fiji Government ahead of the Television Cross Carriage of Designated Events Decree being implemented.
It said this is the global norm for similar types of legislation introduced in other territories.
World Rugby said it is also uncomfortable with the outcome reflected in the TV Decree in Fiji which lays claim to access to the entire Rugby Designated Events (rather than the more proportionate position of limiting it to the Fiji national team matches) and represents a worrying erosion of its contractual, commercial and event ownership rights, all of which arise from tournaments which are held outside of Fiji.
World Rugby said the Fiji decree designates three World Rugby events, including the HSBC Sevens World Series, making Rugby Union the sport most affected by the new law.
Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum confirmed to us last night that World Rugby is yet to respond to the government’s request to allow coverage of the HSBC 7s tournaments on all the TV stations in the country.
He hopes to receive a positive reply today.
When Fijivillage asked Sayed-Khaiyum whether the government will allow Fiji TV to show the games if the rights are not allowed to be shared, he said he will deal with this issue today.
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 includes 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.
World Rugby said it did not consent to the sharing of the television feed for the HSBC Sevens World Series with anyone other than Fiji TV who hold the exclusive broadcasting rights to show the 2014 and 2015 Sevens World Series.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is hoping that World Rugby will recognize that the decree put in place is to ensure that all the television stations provide live coverage of the major sporting events.
World Rugby has also said that it has difficulty understanding the underlying requirement that Fiji TV should share the HSBC Sevens World Series event with other Free to Air broadcasters when Fiji TV is itself broadcasting the event on a Free to Air basis and thus reaching the populace of Fiji.
Sayed-Khaiyum said some areas do not have access to Fiji TV.
Fijian Holdings Limited CEO, Nouzab Fareed said FHL which is the majority shareholder of Fiji TV will follow the law of the land and is ready to share the TV feed if it is provided to Fiji TV.
World Rugby has just announced that the Dubai 7s which kicks off at 6 tonight will be available to rugby fans in Fiji via free live streaming at www.worldrugby.org/sevens‑series.
World Rugby said despite the ongoing impasse with the Fiji government regarding the retrospective and without consultation implementation of the Television Cross-Carriage of Designated Events Decree, World Rugby does not want rugby fans to miss out on the action as Fiji continue in their quest to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
As long as you have an active internet connection, you can watch the Dubai 7s on www.worldrugby.org/sevens‑series
In a further statement this morning, World Rugby said while World Rugby recognises that the absence of a television broadcast is inconvenient for fans, it is left with no other option than to withhold the broadcast feed.
World Rugby said it continues to press the government to engage in dialogue with a view to addressing the issues in the best interests of global and Fijian rugby.
We are currently trying to speak to Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum on the government’s next step as the Dubai 7s kicks off at 6 tonight.
Stay with us for developments.
