By Michael Stevens
March 19, 2003
LIVE coverage of Australia’s World Cup campaign could be derailed if war breaks out.
Channel 9 has the exclusive rights to the World Cup, but, like the other networks, would likely provide a blanket coverage of the war.
That would mean the World Cup final would take a back seat.
Nine’s Melbourne program manager Len Downes said last night it was too early to make any decision.
“I’ve had conversations today with various people, not just on the cricket, on the whole thing, and we’ve just got to play it as each day goes,” Downes said.
“First of all, we don’t know when the war is going to start.
“Then we have to take into account what vision we’ll be getting.
“I think we’ve just got to play it by ear over the next few days.
“It’s like September 11. With September 11, we started blanket coverage and then gradually as things got more difficult in terms of vision, we went back to normal programming.”
Downes said with Australia in Sunday night’s final, Nine are obligated to provide coverage.
Herald Sun
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Bugger the war - the World Cup Cricket is far mor important. Furthermore, if all the other channels have coverage of the war then more people will more than likely watch the cricket, so nine’s ratings will be a heap bigger. Cause, not everybody wants to watch news about the war - especially when the cricket is on!!!!!!!!!