11 June 2006
Dubai: A staff at ART television service provider could not explain what went wrong on Friday when most hotels and clubs telecast the World Cup opening match in Arabic to the largely English-speaking expatriate crowd.
The customer service desk only said that subscribers will get the English-language commentary on channel three in the bouquet. "Channels one and two are in Arabic," he said.
The general manager at Le Meridian Mina Siyahi said ART did not explain the glitch. "But everything's been sorted out," said Mike Sully.
Customers will have a choice of Arabic and English commentary. "Everybody's very happy now," he said.
"We have a largely English-speaking clientele," she said, hoping that the commentary would be in English from now on. "We are expecting a huge crowd."
At Jebel Ali Club, customers crowded around the screens as the opening ceremony got under way on Friday. Everything was going smooth, but 10 minutes later, the commentary switched to Arabic.
At the Seaview Hotel, the manager could barely be heard on Saturday over the phone. "Yes. Sure, the commentary is in English," he shouted over the noise, as the glitch got sorted out.
By Mahmood Saberi
Gulf News 2006. All rights reserved.
