Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

Rousseau

AFTER THREE years in existence, SportsMax, the cable sports channel, is still in the red and although the directors are optimistic, they will not be getting into any bidding wars to turn things around.

"We don't see ourselves getting into bidding wars with anybody based on our history and experience," said Oliver McIntosh, president and CEO, at an interactive forum earlier this week at the company's New Kingston office.

"We know we can find products to create that are attractive to the audience, based on our survey. We know we can structure the right atmosphere and revenue to produce a product that people want to watch," chairman of the company Pat Rousseau said.

Better quality product

"With good and better quality product, people will decide what they want to watch," said Phillip Martin, the deputy chairman.

Rousseau was quick to point out that it cost somewhere between US$300,000 and US$400,000 to gain the rights to football games.

It was even more costly, between US$600,000 and US$700,000, he noted, to acquire cricketing rights for a tour.

"It's a lot of money and if you can't make it back in advertising it doesn't suit you to do it," Rousseau said.

But things are looking up for the SportsMax as it has acquired the broadcast and distribution rights in Jamaica for Fox Soccer Channel through its parent company, International Media Content Limited (IMC).

The popular American soccer channel will be rebranded Fox Soccer Channel Jamaica.

The agreement between IMC and Fox Soccer offers SportsMax the right to place up to four hours of local and regional content and commercial inventory on Fox Soccer Channel Jamaica.

The relationship also opens up an avenue for IMC to develop local and regional programming on Fox Soccer Channel Jamaica, with the potential for broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel in North America.

However, starting November 1, SportsMax will twin its channel with Fox Soccer Channel Jamaica and offer the two channels via subscription through local cable operators islandwide.

Cable subscribers will have to order the two channels for a monthly fee. Persons in the corporate area will be asked to pay $400 while rural subscribers will pay $300.

Since 2003, SportsMax has produced and broadcast the most popular sports in the region, including football, basketball, cricket, track and field, surfing, volleyball, tennis, go-karting, motor sport, rugby and polo.