TV broadcasters in many countries outside the European Union (EU)...
TV broadcasters in many countries outside the European Union (EU) may have to cut back coverage of the Athens 2004 Olympics if the Greek govt. doesn’t provide refunds of Value Added Tax (VAT). In previous years, host countries have…
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refunded VAT paid on services and facilities connected with the production of Olympic coverage, on grounds the broadcast signals were being exported, said Patrick Cozier, secy. gen. of the Carribean Bcstg. Union (CBU). Despite the enormous promotional benefits that Greece will receive, the govt. hasn’t confirmed it will refund VAT paid on transmission charges, and has so far refused to consider refunds on services such as hotel charges for broadcasters’ staff, according the World Bcstg. Unions. VAT refunds are guaranteed only to broadcasters that have an EU-registered corporate. Govt. officials couldn’t be reached for comment. “We are going to have to either reduce our coverage or find additional funding,’ Cozier told us, because its members don’t have a corporate entity in the EU. The VAT rule greatly affects the Asia Pacific Bcstg. Union (ABU), which represents more than 100 national broadcasters in 52 countries, with combined viewership of 3.7 billion, said David Astley, ABU secy. gen. The N. American Bcstrs. Assn. (NABA) wouldn’t be affected because its members have corporate entities in Europe, said Michael McEwen, NABA secy. gen. NBC Universal, which will broadcast the Games, couldn’t be reached for comment.