Many Bermudians were unable to watch World Cup football when the island's only cable company pulled coverage, prompting the telecommunications minister to step in Saturday and order the company to air the games.

The Associated Press reported today that Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb ordered the company to resume airing the World Cup coverage tonight, according to a message on ZBM.

Webb was not immediately available for comment.

CableVision and Bermuda Broadcasting Co., the parent company of local television channel ZBM, had a written agreement that the cable company would only air the soccer competition on ZBM, said Bermuda Broadcasting Co.'s chief executive Rick Richardson on Friday.

But on Thursday CableVision also aired the competition's opening game - France vs. Senegal - on ESPN2.

Bermuda Broadcasting Co. was granted an injunction request on Friday to keep CableVision from airing the games on any other channels but the local ZBM.

The injunction, however, stated that CableVision “be restrained from broadcasting, transmitting or repeating in any fashion in Bermuda any broadcasts and/or any games of the 2002 Football World Cup tournament until further order.”

CableVision general manager Jeremy Elmas pulled coverage, including from ZBM, for Friday night's games.

“This is a court order; we will obey it to the letter until ordered otherwise,” Elmas said Friday.

By law, CableVision must air local channels, including ZBM. Though the local station can be viewed by those without cable, most television viewers in the British territory of 60,000 are cable subscribers.

“CableVision was very aware that (ZBM) had been given the exclusive rights from FIFA, said British Broadcasting Co. lawyer Mark Pettingill.

Pettingill said he would return to court on Monday morning in a bid to get the injunction amended.