BSkyB's Commitment to West Indies Cricket Praised
REV. WES HALL, president of the West Indies Cricket Board, describes as brilliant British Sky Broadcasting's commitment to West Indies cricket despite the limited results of the senior team.
Rev. Hall and Val Banks, the vice-president and new chairman of the Finance Committee, accompanied by Chris Dehring, Chief Executive of Windies World Cup 2007 Inc., and Teddy Griffith, former chairman of the WICB's Marketing Committee, returned on Tuesday from their meeting with BSkyB officials in London last week.
'It was necessary for us, especially Val and I, for whom it was our first meeting with BSkyB, to talk with them because we have a contractural arrangement with them beginning in 2004 and we needed to consolidate that relationship,' remarked Rev. Hall.
He added: 'We needed to give them the assurances that we are doing our best for West Indies cricket. They have a relationship with us even when our team is at the bottom of the barrel.
'They have not come to us when we are world champions, so we need to make sure the confidence that they have reposed in us is something that we can justify.'
Rev. Hall believes everything must be done to ensure BSkyB has a return on its investment, since the WICB has signed a US $40 million contract for the telecommunications giant to manage West Indies' worldwide broadcasting and Internet rights from 2004 to 2008.
'We must redeem their faith in us by trying very hard to get our team again one of the best in the world,' he said.
'Our developmental processes will have to indicate that's what we are doing. We are in a transition period and we recognise it, but we need to take remedial action so that our young players will do us proud again as they mature.'
Rev. Hall indicated the meetings also helped the WICB safeguard its television package, since it was a major source of revenue now that tour guarantees have been standardised.
'It does not matter what is our status is in the game, how many people attend matches or not, or where the matches are played, it’s a standard fee for all,' he stated.
'It means we now have to look at how we maximise our takings from the gates and how we regard our television rights.'
Rev. Hall also mentioned the closure of the Caribbean Media Corporation could affect the WICB and the sport in the Caribbean adversely.
'We all know what happens to West Indian people when we can't see cricket,' he said.
'We are all distressed, so we will have to take the type of actions that will ensure that our people see as much cricket as possible.'
For further information please contact:
Saunders-Franklyn Associates Inc
T: (246) 437-5588
F: (246) 437-5593
E: saunders@sunbeach.net
Rev. Hall and Val Banks, the vice-president and new chairman of the Finance Committee, accompanied by Chris Dehring, Chief Executive of Windies World Cup 2007 Inc., and Teddy Griffith, former chairman of the WICB's Marketing Committee, returned on Tuesday from their meeting with BSkyB officials in London last week.
'It was necessary for us, especially Val and I, for whom it was our first meeting with BSkyB, to talk with them because we have a contractural arrangement with them beginning in 2004 and we needed to consolidate that relationship,' remarked Rev. Hall.
He added: 'We needed to give them the assurances that we are doing our best for West Indies cricket. They have a relationship with us even when our team is at the bottom of the barrel.
'They have not come to us when we are world champions, so we need to make sure the confidence that they have reposed in us is something that we can justify.'
Rev. Hall believes everything must be done to ensure BSkyB has a return on its investment, since the WICB has signed a US $40 million contract for the telecommunications giant to manage West Indies' worldwide broadcasting and Internet rights from 2004 to 2008.
'We must redeem their faith in us by trying very hard to get our team again one of the best in the world,' he said.
'Our developmental processes will have to indicate that's what we are doing. We are in a transition period and we recognise it, but we need to take remedial action so that our young players will do us proud again as they mature.'
Rev. Hall indicated the meetings also helped the WICB safeguard its television package, since it was a major source of revenue now that tour guarantees have been standardised.
'It does not matter what is our status is in the game, how many people attend matches or not, or where the matches are played, it’s a standard fee for all,' he stated.
'It means we now have to look at how we maximise our takings from the gates and how we regard our television rights.'
Rev. Hall also mentioned the closure of the Caribbean Media Corporation could affect the WICB and the sport in the Caribbean adversely.
'We all know what happens to West Indian people when we can't see cricket,' he said.
'We are all distressed, so we will have to take the type of actions that will ensure that our people see as much cricket as possible.'
For further information please contact:
Saunders-Franklyn Associates Inc
T: (246) 437-5588
F: (246) 437-5593
E: saunders@sunbeach.net