Statement on 2010 World Cup Football Coverage

Marpin 2K4 is delighted with the response by the Dominican public to the exclusive coverage on Channel 13 of the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa. The negotiations to secure the rights to the World Cup was an equal opportunity process with both Marpin and SAT Telecoms being contacted by the Regional Rights owner, SportsMax, to purchase the rights to broadcast to the Dominican public. Marpin was the only company that responded positively and bought the rights for Dominica. As part of its ongoing responsibility, Marpin offered the package to Sat Telecoms. Sat’s position remained unchanged as they again declined an offer to carry the World Cup.

Sat Telecoms has claimed that Marpin purchased the rights for the Games at the cost of $45,000 US Dollars and that Marpin offered them the Games at the same cost. Marpin wishes to categorically deny this. In fact, the sum of $45,000 US Dollars was the amount proffered to each Company in a shared market. Since Sat Telecoms was not interested in bringing the Games to its customers, Marpin was offered exclusive rights at the cost of US $80,000 which the Company had to pay in advance. Marpin then had the right to offer Sat Telecoms the Games at whatever cost it wished to attach to them but the Company offered the Games at no more and no less than the initial cost for a shared market and Marpin awaits their response.

In the meantime, Marpin 2K4 has created a special World Cup package for all customers who sign up with Marpin during the period of the Games as we want all of Dominica to be part of the greatest sporting event in the world, after the Olympics. Over the next few weeks, Cable customers who sign up and pay their installation fee will get the third month absolutely FREE.

Marpin 2k4 is owned jointly by WRB Enterprises and the Dominica Social Security, and indeed all Dominicans have a stake in the success of Marpin given the importance of Social Security. The Company has an obligation to run a financially prudent organization, whilst ensuring that it acquires the broadcast rights for content that customers are interested in viewing.

All companies have an obligation to serve their customer base. Marpin is fulfilling that promise to its customers, and will continue to do so with new programming, new content, the soon to be launched FREE Marpin TV Guide and events such as the World Cup and the upcoming Commonwealth Games in India.

Marpin would like to take this opportunity to thank all its customers for their continued business and support. Marpin is the reference and the preference for cable and Internet service on the island and the Company invites all consumers to be part of its growing digital services network.