ESPN Sports trips plexes’ Cup plans

City multiplexes have been denied licence for public screening of the FIFA World Cup matches by ESPN Star Sports, the official broadcaster. Sricharan Iyengar, vice-president, sales and marketing, ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd, said, “Theatres wanting to screen the matches should approach FIFA, not us. We can only grant TV broadcasting rights to private clubs and restobars having long-term financial agreement with us.”

Cricket matches and Formula One races had been telecast at multiplexes. So had been 2002 World Cup soccer matches whose public viewing licence was with Ten Sports. Adlabs and PVR have been trying to strike a deal with ESPN this time, but nothing has materialised so far. “This is a setback for us as we were hoping to associate our brand with a big scale event like the FIFA World Cup,” said Devang Sampat, marketing manager, Cinemax.

Pubs and restobars, who pay a fee to ESPN Star Sports for year-round telecast, are expecting a good turnout of football lovers. “We are expecting good business as football, booze and the company of friends make a heady mixture,” said Kishore DF, owner of Seijo and the Soul Dish, Bandra. Plasma screens will greet customers at Zenzi (Bandra), Vie (Juhu), Club Lounge (JW Mariott) Geoffrey’s (Marine Plaza) and Bowling Company (Phoenix Mills).