Tag Archives: English Premier League

SABC secures Premier League rights

News, ,
The English Premier League is among the top football divisions in the world

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has secured broadcast rights to English Premier League (EPL) football in partnership with Gemini Sports Media via rights holder Infront Sports France.

The new EPL season will commence on August 12 and will be viewable in South Africa on SABC Sport across linear and digital platforms.

SABC head of sport Keletso Totlhanyo said: “The acquisition of the league has always been a strategic direction of the SABC. The English Premier League creates various marketing opportunities for SABC Sport and other brands. We will optimally use this event to create a sense of euphoria for South Africans everywhere, and we look forward to a long-lasting partnership with Gemini Sports Media.”

Gemini Sports Media representative Carrie Davis added: “We are thrilled to embark on this journey with the SABC. The EPL presents a tremendous opportunity for brands to connect with a broad audience of sports fans. Our mission is to make the EPL accessible to all South Africans, ensuring that the excitement and passion of this league reach every corner of the country.”

SABC Sport will be the primary broadcast platform, with SABC 3, the SABC Sport website and SABC Plus also carrying EPL matches live simultaneously.

tagged in: , ,

NANPF demands EPL royalties

News, ,

The National Association of Nigerian Professional Footballers (NANPF) has demanded US$10bn in royalties from networks broadcasting the English Premier League (EPL) in Nigeria.

According to NANPF president Harrison Jalla, the money would mitigate the damage caused to local leagues by English football’s “invasion” of Nigeria over the past 10 years.

The association says talent scouts and merchandise from foreign leagues are so active in Nigeria that local youth are more interested in foreign football fixtures and associated merchandise than Nigerian games.

“In light of this, we have initiated various moves that would ensure the local game benefited from this invasion, which, to say the least, has crippled the domestic game,” Jalla said.

He disclosed that the NANPF had contacted the relevant organisations and authorities to make its demands known. This includes the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, the Nigeria Lottery Regulatory Commission and the Nigeria Lottery Trust Fund.

The NANPF has also been in touch with solicitors Johnson & Steller of London to initiate the process of obtaining the money.

Jalla said the English Football Association had been informed about the decision. “We wrote and informed them that their product [the EPL] was affecting the growth of our own game. They acknowledged receipt of our correspondence and promised to look into the case, but we don’t have the luxury of waiting for when they will come back to us,” he said.

If the demand is met, Nigerian television networks will be required to pay royalties to the Nigerian football authorities every time EPL matches are broadcast. “We are not calling for outright ban on foreign content, but they should pay some royalty to positively affect our local game,” Jalla said.

tagged in: , ,