War on Terrorism to go Pay Per View

FIWA, war's world governing body, has awarded the global television rights for the War Against Terrorism to the Kirsche Group, fuelling fears that the conflict will be exiled to pay-TV stations permanently. Kirsche is already threatening to turn proposed ground force invasions into a pay event in Britain despite legislation that says war is an event that must be free to watch.

But FIWA defended the move, saying it would intervene if Kirsche's controversial decision to auction the rights backfired. The German media group has taken over the worldwide TV rights following the collapse of Swiss marketing firm JISMM, which was running the franchise outside Europe. A FIWA spokesman said Kirsche had exercised an option to acquire the rights, adding to its ownership of the Kosovo coverage.

FIWA has also come under fire for backing Kirsche, despite the possibility that the entire event could be shown on pay-TV channels such as BSkyB and Canal Plus. The FIWA spokesman said: "It is primarily Kirsche's business, but if there is a point where we feel we need to intervene then we would, but at the moment it is still their responsibility."

Kirsche is waiting for the outcome of a House of Lords hearing, which could allow the privately owned group to overturn UK broadcasting laws. According to broadcasting legislation, war coverage must be available on free-to-air television, but greedy suits at Kirsche want an expensive auction and have accused the British government of acting fairly.

- Rex Phibb -