ISLAMABAD, Nov 16: A new arrangement for telecast of international hockey matches has been made with the game’s governing body: the FIH now holding all broadcasting rights.

Steven Morris, Marketing Manager of FIH told Dawn on Wednesday that under the new contract signed this year all broadcasting will now have to go through them.

“Before, we used to deal through an agency but now we will be dealing directly with the broadcasters which is good for them and the FIH because we will be able to listen more carefully to what they need.”

Morris arrived in Islamabad along with the Director Marketing of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), Naveed Haider to hold a meeting with officials of Pakistan Television (PTV).

The changed system will benefit not only the FIH but also the national federations as Naveed explained. “We are happy because when we host the Champions Trophy in 2007 we will be getting money from TV rights.

“What happens now is that the FIH will make money, it will pass a part of that money to the national federations with everything being controlled professionally and it will be good for everyone involved including the game itself.”

Previously, if the PTV wanted to show matches involving Pakistan anywhere in the world they used to get in touch with the host broadcaster and get signals directly without the involvement of FIH or PHF.

When Pakistan host the Champions Trophy then PTV becomes the host broadcaster which will be a separate arrangement altogether. “The signal will come to us and we will sell and distribute it worldwide,” Morris said. “Money comes to us and we will share it with the PHF.”

He stressed that the FIH wanted hockey on television regularly to promote the game. “We have picked up links with broadcasters all over the world including PTV. For us Pakistan and PTV are important.”

For events outside Pakistan, PTV will have to pay the required fee to the FIH and telecast the games and recover the money trough local sponsorship.

Meanwhile, there is going to be a change in sponsorship advertising on international uniforms. At the moment there are only two sides allowed but soon there are going to be more. “The details are being worked out.”

The proposal for more space on uniforms was put up by Naveed who is the first Pakistani on the PHF’s marketing committee. His proposal has since been accepted by the committee and the FIH executive board. It is to be finalised by Jan 1.