CableVision and Bermuda Broadcasting Company have reached an agreement so viewers will have now access to previously blacked-out Olympic coverage.

Last night Darlene Ming, Bermuda Broadcasting Company Radio and Television Progamming Manager and Terry Roberson, CableVision general manager announced that their companies had finally come to an agreement following a meeting with the Department of Telecommunications.

Under the agreement, CableVision and BBC will go to arbitration to discuss fees.

Now CableVision customers will be able to see the Beijing Olympics on MSNBC, CNBC, USA, CBC and Oxygen except the NBC affiliate on Channel 6.

The BBC had paid for exclusive rights to screen the 2008 Beijing Olympics but this resulted in several channels normally available to CableVision subscribers being blacked as the Games were screened solely on ZBM Channel 9. The BBC's coverage consists of a feed from the Caribbean, and some footage from NBC, CBC and CBS.

Mrs. Ming said: "BBC is pleased that the Bermuda public will be able to enjoy extended coverage of the Olympics. We'd like to thank Bermuda CableVision for working with us."

And Mr. Roberson added that: "We are delighted that an agreement was reached today, and we look forward to implementing it quickly to bring additional coverage of the Olympics to Bermuda. We hope the Bermuda public will enjoy the expanded coverage."

The two companies have been back and forth during the last couple of weeks after viewers complained about awful programming, poor reception and unscheduled blackouts have spoiled their enjoyment of the Games.

On Sunday, the BBC offered CableVision the opportunity to air additional channels, in exchange for payment of part of the programming rights fee.

But CableVision rejected the offer, saying it was not willing "to pay twice for the programming".

Instead it reiterated its offer to provide the BBC with a free channel for additional 24-hour coverage in return for a feed — a proposal rejected last week by the broadcasting company.

On Monday, the Department of Telecommunications urged both the BBC and CableVision to "immediately finalise an agreement that will allow the public expectations to be met".

Fernance Perry, the Chairman of BBC, added: "We have reached an agreement. It's the type of agreement we expected all along.

"I am just sorry that we both didn't come together in the very beginning and agree to this. It would have prevented all the criticism and dissatisfied, unhappy viewers. We hope we can have a good working relationship in the future."