AirAsia, Maxis main sponsors of RTM's World Cup coverage

PUTRAJAYA: Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo announced that Maxis will be the platinum sponsor and AirAsia will be the gold sponsor for RTM's FIFA World Cup coverage which kicks off on Thursday.
Maxis will be sponsoring a total of RM18 million whereas AirAsia's sponsorship amounts to RM12 million which makes up the entire RM30 million the Ministry needs to air the coverage of the main event in Russia.
At an event at the ministry headquarters here today, Gobind also revealed that there are more sponsors that are currently negotiating with RTM but he could not reveal them because negotiations have not been completed yet.
"We are confident that other sponsors want to come on board and more will in the days to come. Other companies are in negotiations with us but contracts aren't signed yet," he said.
He also added that companies who want to come on board have to go through RTM instead of the ministry.
"We let RTM negotiate with potential sponsors because they are the experts," he said.
Gobind also added that the RM30 million sponsorship accrued so far from both these companies only covers the purchase of the rights for the games.
"If we have other sponsors, we will use that money for other things. As we start our coverage, there will definitely be other costs that crop up, but I'm sure that those won't be substantial," he said.
He said he has already asked RTM for a list of other costs and he will make those accounts public if necessary but assured that the additional costs will not be substantial.
Gobind added his ministry has instructed RTM to sort out the details with the license holder, in an attempt to add more live televised matches to their programme.
"As of now we have 41 matches, but at the same time I have ordered RTM to try and negotiate more matches and ways on improving the pricing," he elaborated.
RTM will broadcast 41 matches out of which 28 will be live and 13 will be delayed. The quarterfinals, semifinals and final match will be shown live.