Cricket: World Cup TV cover worries NZ Cricket

By Richard Boock

New Zealand Cricket chief Chris Doig - with only a hint of a violin accompaniment - is claiming the World Cup television rights will be hard to sell.

Right on cue, the NZC chief executive has moved to raise awareness of the competition, or more to the point, raise awareness in the advertising market surrounding the World Cup.

Latching on to the fact that none of the three major New Zealand television companies had yet secured the rights, Doig said the uncertainty was "a huge concern to us" as it was difficult to attract people to advertise throughout the night.

Because none of the World Cup games are to be played under lights in Britain, play will extend through the New Zealand night.

"It is hard to sell advertising around that," Doig said. "But we haven't given up on it and I know the World Cup organisers are dealing with the company which looks after the rights.

"New Zealand is the only country which has no coverage deal."

However, all three television companies yesterday confirmed they were negotiating over the contract.

TV3 head of sport Gavin Wood said TV3 was negotiating with the English Cricket Board and was hopeful of a decision before the end of the month, Sky spokeswoman Melissa Brady said Sky was interested in the rights, and TV One general manager Shaun Brown said his channel was also involved in discussions over the package.

The World Cup begins on May 14 when hosts England meet defending champions Sri Lanka at Lord's. New Zealand play their first game of the competition against Bangladesh at Chelmsford three days later, and square off against Australia at Cardiff, the West Indies at Southhampton, Pakistan at Derby and Scotland in Edinburgh in other pool games.

The top three teams from the two pools then play a round-robin to establish semifinalists, with the final to be played at Lord's on June 19.