FIFA World Cup to stay away from TV screens in East UP

Varanasi, June 9 (UNI) Owing to the piffling population of football lovers and alleged ''armtwisting'' of ESPN-STAR SPORTS, the viewers of east Uttar Pradesh, including this holy city are all set to miss a major part of the FIFA World Cup that starts today.

Talking to UNI here today, the Managing Director of Siti Cable in Varanasi, Alok Parikh said because of the reluctance of ESPN-Star to climb down from its stand in the interest of the football fans, they have has decided not to make much efforts to show the quadrennial Soccer festival live to households having cable connections in the city and almost entire East UP.

''We are not here to work for public interest, but are in this field to earn profit. If the ESPN-Star, despite, having only one major sporting event in their bouquet, is hellbent at charging Rs 42 per connection plus taxes, which makes the amount Rs 60, we are not going to show the World Cup live to the football followers from our own pockets,'' Mr Parikh said.

When other sports channels like Ten Sports are providing us unhindered sports events live at a cost of Rs 15 per connection, how can we we go for ESPN-Star at four times the same cost and that too for a miniscule part of city population, who are soccer followers.

''The demand for soccer unlike the Eastern part of India, is very low in this part of Uttar Pradesh, which is why we are not going to fall under the pressure of ESPN-Star,'' he added.

There are 140 cable opretors providing satellite TV products to around 70,000 households in Varanasi.

Mr Parikh, even claimed that only 10 per cent of UP and 30 per cent of India will be able to see the World Cup live on ESPN-Star and that too through few cable operators, who subscribe directly through the Sports network, instead through the Siti Cable Network.

The only East UP district to show the World Cup live via ESPN-STar will be Jaunpur, Mr Patrikh claimed.

He, however, had some respite for football fans in the region, by promising providing live matches through the Doordarshan, including the inaugural two matches, besides unhindered live coverage of Quarter Final stage to the Grand Finale in Berlin.

He, also said that the Siti Cable was working on other alternatives to bring live the exploits of Ronaldinho, Zidane and Messi on the TV screens in Varanasi.

''We are working on telecasting the matches in Varanasi live, through certain free to air satellites whose names I will not like to disclose,'' he added.

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