PETALING JAYA: Telekom Malaysia is emerging as a potential key player in securing broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Industry sources indicate that Telekom Malaysia, through its Unifi TV platform, is currently in talks with Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) to jointly acquire the rights for football’s biggest tournament, scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11-July 19.
RTM’s possible involvement has raised questions about the use of public funds, as Telekom Malaysia continue to assess the feasibility of acquiring the full rights package.
At this stage, no agreement has been finalised, though discussions are said to be ongoing at board level.
Last week, the Youth and Sports Ministry and other relevant agencies said they would hold discussions regarding the broadcasting rights for the tournament.
FIFA initially set the price at US$50mil (RM197.5mil), a figure widely considered prohibitive by local broadcasters.
While the fee is understood to have been reduced to around US$35mil (RM138.3mil), industry players remain cautious.
Some however, are questioning whether there is even a need to spend so much just to bring the matches live.
While some are urging TM, who had spent so much in building fibre infrastructure, share the cost by working together with telcos, broadcasters (like MY TV) to reduce their own cost and give the viewers more options on platforms to enjoy the World Cup?
In the past the respective partners have worked together to share the rights.
It is unsure whether they will be able to monetise or make a profit from the airing of the World Cup.
The sports minister, Taufiq Johari, said interest in the World Cup had been growing, with increasing calls for matches to be aired live on local stations.
With time running out before kick-off, the race to secure broadcast rights and ensure Malaysians can watch the World Cup continues.
Broadcast rights negotiations have been hampered by cost concerns.
Sources say economic pressures, tight timelines for securing sponsorship deals and uncertainty stemming from geopolitical tensions, including the Middle East conflict, have made it difficult for broadcasters to justify the investment.
There are also concerns over the ability to recoup costs, particularly given the tournament’s match schedule, which will see many games played during Malaysian working hours.
"This is a commercial challenge," a source said. "Matches taking place in the morning or late afternoon will not attract the same viewership as prime-time fixtures, limiting advertising and sponsorship potential."
The situation is not unique to Malaysia, with several regional markets, including India and Thailand, also reportedly facing difficulties in concluding deals.
