MultiChoice Africa ready to bid for VPL rights
What you need to know:
This comes after years of rumours that the league would be broadcast live on DStv’s Supersport channels.
Mauritius. MultiChoice Africa through its SuperSport channels has announced that they are finally ready to bid for rights to show the Vodacom Premier League (VPL), which currently is being televised by Azam TV.
This comes after years of rumours that the league would be broadcast live on DStv’s Supersport channels.
Speaking at the MultiChoice content showcase in Mauritius, SuperSport’s general manager Graeme Murray said they were preparing a bid to rival the current three-year deal by AzamTV which expires in 2017.
“We are getting ready to come back with a bid that will surely add value to the VPL but in the meantime as we wait for this to happen we shall continue with the Cecafa tournaments,” he said.
He added that one of the compelling issues for their renewed interest is the glamour of the Tanzanian league which attracts great numbers in terms of viewership.
“I think we were the first to show interests in this league but due to circumstances beyond us we couldn’t enter terms with the Tanzania Football Association, but for now I can say we are ready,” added Murray.
In another development Supersport’s head of production Alvin Naicker has said that they believe in the upskilling of the continental broadcast talent.
Naicker was speaking at a SuperSport’s Media Roundtable on the same day SuperSport announced that the 11th edition of the All Africa Games will be broadcast live on SuperSport 9, starting with the opening ceremony on Friday.
“It’s important to upskill continental sports broadcasting talent. The understanding works its way into their DNA - and it shows in the results that viewers see on-screen,” said Alvin Naicker.
On his part citing the Nigerian example Murray added that as the biggest contributor in Africa investment in continental sport, SuperSport has yielded impressive results.
“In 2006 we flew a crew of 26 people to Abuja to broadcast a football game. Today, we’re proud to say that we have 100 per cent local crews operating our facilities in Nigeria and Ghana,” he said.
Also speaking at the same venue was former Ghanaian international Anthony Baffoe who said SuperSport’s contribution has extended beyond broadcasting, into increasing levels of professionalism in leagues across the continent.
