National television broadcaster VTV has promised to represent all of the pay TV broadcasters in the country to auction the English Premier League (EPL) telecast rights in Vietnam. The broadcaster made the statement at the meeting held by the Vietnam Pay TV Association on Tuesday, which was attended by VTC, AVG, and the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City TV stations. Earlier VTV announced that they will buy the rights to broadcast the EPL in Vietnam directly from the organizers, and will only represent the three pay TV broadcasters under its management. The meeting attendants were hoping to be able to acquire the rights at the best price possible. With VTV claiming to cooperate, the TV stations however remained concerned that national TV may lose in the auction as it has revealed the price it will bid for the TV rights. VTV said in a recent statement that it will “acquire the ELP TV rights for the 2013 – 2016 reasons at a price revolving around the rates it paid in the last three seasons.” Based on that hint, a foreign intermediate company may bid a higher price to win the rights to broadcast the ELP in Vietnam, local broadcasters said. “In that case, VTV will join hands with all broadcasters and interested units in Vietnam to negotiate with the telecast rights winner,” a VTV spokesperson told the meeting. Meanwhile, the Vietnam Pay TV Association was criticized for not representing its member in the TV rights deal, in order for them to avoid buying the rights at exorbitant prices. It is expected that local broadcasters will have to buy the EPL rights for the next three seasons at US$30 million. “The association wished to do so but it has yet to be licensed to operate in the TV rights sector, despite a number of applications,” the chairman said. The Vietnamese broadcasters still have three weeks to reach a consensus in this TV rights battle. VTV said it will invite all relevant parties for a meeting to discuss the detailed plans on the coming auction.