Bermuda Broadcasting Company should find out today if they can gain access to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's feed from the Atlanta games.

BBC general manager Rick Richardson yesterday told The Royal Gazette the Island station has been talking to the Canadian public broadcaster about providing an alternative to NBC's ultra-American coverage.

He was reacting to recent criticism that NBC, host broadcaster for the Atlanta games, has been wallowing in an orgy of pro-American coverage.

That point, says Mr. Richardson, was recently expressed at the International Broadcast Centre in Atlanta, but NBC has heard it all before, he said.

"All of the international broadcasters who have been receiving NBC have basically complained about the bias, but their focus is on providing coverage for the thousands of NBC affiliates in the US. We're just a small player. NBC is not going to create a special feed just for this little Island; it's ridiculous to expect them to,'' he said.

Criticism of ZFB, channel 7, is also unfair said Mr. Richardson.

"Prior to securing NBC, when we were shopping around for coverage, concern came from the Bermuda Olympic Association over whether we had NBC. They were seen as the dominant Olympic station and pressure came from outside, from others, to secure coverage. The Caribbean Broadcasting Union secured NBC coverage for the whole region,'' he said.

"We've tried from the outset to find alternatives. If VSB were broadcasting the games they'd be showing NBC as well.'' Mr. Richardson also denied that BBC has blacked out cable coverage of Canadian stations broadcasting the games. "There is no Canadian station covering the games on Cablevision. Only the CBC is covering the games in Canada and they're not on cable. We'd be happy if Bermuda Cablevison was carrying another source, but they're not.'' Securing CBC coverage is not guaranteed but there is hope says Mr. Richardson.

"People have to realise these issues are incredibly complicated; there are Canadian personalities and announcers who have copyright issues, not to mention the unions involved,'' he said. "But it's still in the cards. I just got off the phone with them and there's a great chance we can get the CBC.

We'll know by (today) Tuesday.''