BCB (ZNS) subleases certain Olympic Broadcast rights to CBL (Cable)

The Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas  Radio Bahamas ZNS-1 1540 AM – ZNS-2 1240 AM ZNS-3 810 AM – Power 104.5 FM – ZNS Channel 13
July 25, 2012   Press Release  

The Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB) having secured exclusive rights as the Official Olympic Broadcaster in The Bahamas, today announced that in exercising its rights BCB has agreed to sub-lease certain rights to Cable Bahamas Limited (CBL) to allow Olympic coverage under specified conditions in a cooperative effort with the private cable facility.  Executive Chairman Rev. Dr. William Thompson noted that, “while BCB and Cable discussed the possibility of joint negotiations for the rights no such joint negotiations ever took place. 

BCB’s agreement with CBL to carry Olympic coverage is contingent on CBL not inserting any local advertising on any of its ‘Olympic’ channels during the period of the Olympiad.  While we do not intend to discuss details of the agreement between BCB and CBL publicly, press reports of Cable Bahamas paying BCB a fee in excess of 50 percent of the cost of the rights are exaggerated.  The new agreement is an improvement on the previous one granted CBL by ZNS for rights to the Summer Olympics in China”. 

The Corporation wishes to assure the public that ZNS will provide expanded coverage on radio and television focusing on Caribbean athletes inclusive of our premier Bahamian athletes. BCB is committed to bringing premier quality programming to our Bahamian audience.  Bahamians can look forward to an average of 21 hours of Olympic coverage daily.   

Executive Chairman Thompson said, “ZNS is committed to carrying as much live coverage as possible, while other stations such as NBC have provided delayed Olympic broadcasts coverage in the past”.  “The public will therefore enjoy full exposure to the summer games including events that are of particular interest where regional athletes inclusive of Bahamians are performing, said Rev. Dr. Thompson.   

Coverage on ZNS TV-13 commences daily from Friday, July 27, 2012 at 4 each morning.  The spectacular opening ceremony of the Summer Games will be broadcast live by ZNS TV-13 on Friday at 4 p.m.  ZNS senior sports personality Ricardo Lightbourn is included in the team providing coverage on the national station.      The public is invited to tune in daily to ZNS for live Olympic action with a focus on our athletes. We are committed to Bahamians first.