Post by Linalin on Feb 14, 2005 15:49:55 GMT -5
Asahi rejects demand to remove logo from ref's jersey for NHK telecast
TOKYO — The Asahi Shimbun rejected Monday a demand by rugby officials that its logo be removed from referees' jerseys at the national championship, for which the newspaper serves as a corporate sponsor.
The Japan Rugby Football Union made the request after public broadcaster NHK claimed that national rugby body unilaterally adopted the new clothing for referees featuring the Asahi Shimbun logo in a breach of contract regarding the broadcasting of the championship.
On Saturday, after receiving hosts of request for live coverage, NHK broadcast live a quarterfinal match between Toyota Motor and Waseda University as was originally scheduled in an about-face from a decision to show a taped broadcast later in the day.
NHK apparently attempted to edit out scenes showing the newspaper's logo and there were only a few times that the logo was caught in the live coverage of the game.
"We asked the rugby union to honor the contents we agreed in our contract. This issue is basically between the union and NHK but we hope that live coverage will take place for the semifinals and final for the sake of ruby fans," an Asahi Shimbun spokesman said.
Hiroshi Hibino, acting president of the rugby union, reiterated that the union is to blame for causing the mix-up, saying the latest request to the Asahi Shimbun is aimed at "breaking the impasse."
Hibino was referring to an agreement between the union and NHK that NHK's policy should be heard and respected before a corporate advertisement is adopted at the national championship.
The incident came as NHK and the Asahi Shimbun have been at odds since the daily reported last month that the public broadcaster altered a documentary in 2001 under political pressure. NHK has denied the allegations.
NHK is scheduled to broadcast the semifinals and the final of the national championship slated for next Saturday and Feb 27, respectively. The rugby union plans to present NHK with a written apology on Tuesday in a bid to ensure live coverage of the matches.
NHK is just making things worse for their image, aren't they? All this trouble, they're in and they're starting these petty little fights.
TOKYO — The Asahi Shimbun rejected Monday a demand by rugby officials that its logo be removed from referees' jerseys at the national championship, for which the newspaper serves as a corporate sponsor.
The Japan Rugby Football Union made the request after public broadcaster NHK claimed that national rugby body unilaterally adopted the new clothing for referees featuring the Asahi Shimbun logo in a breach of contract regarding the broadcasting of the championship.
On Saturday, after receiving hosts of request for live coverage, NHK broadcast live a quarterfinal match between Toyota Motor and Waseda University as was originally scheduled in an about-face from a decision to show a taped broadcast later in the day.
NHK apparently attempted to edit out scenes showing the newspaper's logo and there were only a few times that the logo was caught in the live coverage of the game.
"We asked the rugby union to honor the contents we agreed in our contract. This issue is basically between the union and NHK but we hope that live coverage will take place for the semifinals and final for the sake of ruby fans," an Asahi Shimbun spokesman said.
Hiroshi Hibino, acting president of the rugby union, reiterated that the union is to blame for causing the mix-up, saying the latest request to the Asahi Shimbun is aimed at "breaking the impasse."
Hibino was referring to an agreement between the union and NHK that NHK's policy should be heard and respected before a corporate advertisement is adopted at the national championship.
The incident came as NHK and the Asahi Shimbun have been at odds since the daily reported last month that the public broadcaster altered a documentary in 2001 under political pressure. NHK has denied the allegations.
NHK is scheduled to broadcast the semifinals and the final of the national championship slated for next Saturday and Feb 27, respectively. The rugby union plans to present NHK with a written apology on Tuesday in a bid to ensure live coverage of the matches.
NHK is just making things worse for their image, aren't they? All this trouble, they're in and they're starting these petty little fights.
