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West Indies fans in the Caribbean who were hoping to either see or listen to live cricket coverage of the West Indies' Test series with Sri Lanka can forget about it - at least for now. Two weeks ago, the Sri Lankan cricket authorities terminated its contract with World Sport Group (WSG Nimbus) for the exclusive radio and television rights. This action by the Sri Lankan Board virtually ended any possibility of Windies fans being able to follow their favourite exports' progress.

After the cancellation of the contract with WSG Nimbus, the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), the regional body that was negotiating on behalf of radio and television stations in the Caribbean, sought clarification as to the status of its rights in relation to their signed contract with WSG Nimbus.

In the meantime however, the Sri Lankan cricket authorities advised CMC that it had arrived at an agreement for Taj Sports Television Limited to be its new rights and marketing agent for the next four years. At the same time, the Sri Lankan authorities advised CMC that they could enter into negotiations with Taj Sports Television Limited in respect of television coverage.

Just this week however, the Caribbean Media Corporation were informed by the Group Lawyer for WSG Nimbus that their client still held legal rights to the upcoming Test and one-day series in Sri Lanka, and outlined all the unsettled legal actions in this matter. At the same time, WSG's lawyer warned against entering into a contract with any other television or production company.

Armed with this information, CMC sought to get indemnity "against any legal action that may airse" from both Taj Sports and the Sri Lankan Cricket Board - they both declined. Taj Sports however, have since advised that they are "studying it." Earlier today, Taj Sports advised CMC that they were offering "full radio and television rights for the entire series," but said nothing about the indemnity which CMC needs in order to proceed.

In fact, WSG through their attorneys advised that they couldn't fulfill the contract, as a result of the actions taken by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board. With this new twist in the chain of events, it will mean that when the West Indies take the field next week in the first Test, it will be the first time that Windies fans will not be able to follow their progress either on radio or television. During the West Indies' tour of Pakistan in 1997, only radio coverage was available to the fans at home in the Caribbean.

According to a CMC release earlier this week Taj Sports advised that it "cannot provide television production for the Test Matches in the tour, and so it was not offering rights on those." CMC however, pursued negotiations on radio only and arrived at "an understanding on right" for the radio Test Match coverage. In fact, a team of commentators was put on standby to travel to Sri Lanka for the start of the Test series.

Even if the legal hurdles were not an issue with which to contend, the Caribbean fans would still have been blanked from LIVE coverage, since CMC had not realized the required funding to cover the cost of both radio and television coverage, since all the stations in its major markets had not indicated their financial commitment. Either way it seemed, Windies fans would have been blanked. Their only saving grace therefore, is following the progress of the "Cavalier Cricketers" on the Internet.

The Windies fans can still expect some radio and television coverage for the triangular one-day Series which starts on December 8, once the required financial costs have been met and the requested indemnity is received. The CMC in their release stated "no agreement will be entered into unless either Taj Television or the Sri Lankan Cricket Board of Control indemnifies us against legal action." A further statement on this will be made next week.

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