A difficult game to watch

Euro 2012 will be held in Poland and Ukraine next summer.

Tuesday evening’s soccer match between Denmark and Norway, played at Parken in Copenhagen, is of critical importance. And yet, it will be very difficult for most Norwegians to watch the game on TV.

The game determines which team will play in the European Championships (Euro 2012), which are to be held in Poland and Ukraine from June 8 to July 1, 2012.

The right to air away games are sold to the highest bidder, and in this case, the Danish Football Association sold TV rights to expensive pay-station Norway Canal +. Therefore, only subscribers to the channel will be able to enjoy the game on their home TV.

“The simplest way to see the match between Norway and Denmark is actually to travel to Copenhagen,” wrote commentator Reidar Spigseth in newspaper Dagsavisen. “The TV alternative here is almost as expensive.” Indeed, about 5,000 Norwegians have taken this advice and travelled to Copenhagen to see the game.

Before the summer, the Norwegian government had said that they would try to introduce rules to ensure that more people will see these type of games on television. “We have sent out a consultation proposal that the major sporting events, like Euro-qualifying matches, will be broadcast on a free channel. If it goes through, Norwegian viewers will see such games,” said State Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Lubna Jaffery. She cannot make any promises for the next big game, though.

“I will not promise it, then I might have to disappoint someone and it would not be right,” she told NRK.

In the meantime, Norwegians can consider streaming the game on the Internet or heading to a local sports bar that offers the channel.

Source: Staff Compilation