Broadcaster not showing Hunters away games

SP Papua New Guinea Hunters fans will not get to watch their team play away games live on TV this season.
The Hunters’ round two fixture against the Northern Pride which took place on Saturday night was not televised live as expected by the team’s fans across the country.
TV WAN ran an advertisement late in the week stating that the Hunters-Pride match highlights would be shown tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7.30pm.
There was no explanation or notice to the fans, especially those who subscribe to Digicel’s Playbox, that the broadcaster was not showing the Hunters away games in 2018. Last Friday Digicel PNG Limited, who have televised all Hunters games since their debut season in 2014, signed an agreement with the PNG National Rugby league, the body which runs the semi-professional Digicel Cup, to continue their naming rights sponsorship as well as broadcast some of their matches over the next two seasons.
Digicel media and TV chief executive officer Charlie Clementson, pictured, marketing manager Tasman Samuel, PNGNRLC chairman Adrian Chow, PNG Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka, CEO Reatau Rau and PNGNRLC competition manager Stanley Hondina were on hand for the signing in Port Moresby.
None of the Digicel representatives said anything about the broadcast of Hunters away games although this was the day before the game.
Presently, only Port Moresby Digicel Cup games are expected to be televised but no plans were laid out for other centres.
Clementson said his company was proud to be into its eighth year of supporting the country’s premier domestic rugby league competition and was pleased with the partnership formed with the code.
“We strive and work together to achieving that goal that has a massive investment in rugby league,” Clementson said.
“This is a significant investment and we are committed to the game,” he said without disclosing the amount in sponsorship.
PNGNRLC chairman Chow said the partnership was what kept the competition running and helped greatly to providing players for the PNG Hunters and the Kumuls — the country’s two main rugby league teams. “This is a great support from Digicel and contributes to develop the national sport’s success and feeds through to the elite level,” Chow said.
Tsaka added that the revamped competition under the PNGNRLC had forged a way forward and with its constitution set to be ratified by the executive board and affiliates this month the future of elite rugby league was in a strong position.
“This massive vote of confidence and investment in the partnership and the renewal is a way forward with the broadcasting rights and sponsorship of the Digicel Cup competition,” Tsaka said.