Korean WC qualifiers may not air here

Korean football fans may not be able to watch their national team match off against Qatar this Saturday, according to the nation’s major broadcasters on Thursday.

The sports bureau directors of the terrestrial broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS said that at the moment none of them will be able to broadcast the 2014 World Cup qualifier Saturday.

At a press conference in Seoul, the broadcasters said that a deal could not be reached with the World Sport Group, who owns the broadcasting rights of the Asian Football Confederation. The broadcasters said that the WSG’s license fees were too high.

It is reported that the WSG had asked for $52 million in return for broadcasting rights for the next 20 games over a four-year period, including the World Cup qualifiers. The nation’s three broadcasters said they were only able to offer $17 million for the rights.

“We paid $21.5 million for 32 games over seven years between 2006 to 2012, including the World Cup, two Asian Cups and two Olympic qualifiers,” said KBS Sports Bureau director Park Young-moon.

By Robert Lee (robert@heraldcorp.com)