Local league inks Super Sport TV deal
Apr 20, 2011
FOR sometime now, a majority of Ugandan footballers have had to live like paupers. Starting with the 2011/2012 season Uganda Super League will benefit from a five-year $5m (sh12b) broadcasting rights deal with SuperSport International.
By FRED KAWEESI
Investment breakdown
Uganda Super League
Clubs: 50% (Sh600m)
Infrastructure:
25% (Sh300m)
Administrative costs:
25% (Sh300m)
Investment into Project
One OB Van: $3m (sh7.2b)
12 cameras:
Training 40 local staff: $40,000 (Sh95m)
FOR sometime now, a majority of Ugandan footballers have had to live like paupers.
Those that have been fortunate enough have fled the country and secured slightly better deals with clubs around East Africa —contracts much better than the peanut hand-outs afforded by the 14 clubs in the Ugandan Super League.
However, that should all change starting with the 2011/2012 season following Uganda Super League’s five-year $5m (sh12b) broadcasting rights deal with SuperSport International.
The Pay television channel will for starters invest over $1m (sh2.4b) into initiating the project –a significant investment outside the $1m (sh2.4b) a season deal of which more than 50% of the money will sink directly into the clubs.
“This is a new dawn for Ugandan football. The Ugandan league has become a great part of world football and we are proud to be investing in one of the most exciting leagues. It justifies our long term ambition and that is to ensure that African football takes over from European football,†Gary Rathbone, Supersport’s head of Africa broadcasting stated during a press briefing at Serena Hotel yesterday.
The deal, the biggest in Ugandan league football since Gateway Television’s (GTV) $5m (sh10b) sponsorship then in 2007, ushers in a new era in the local game which for the last two years has been embroiled in power struggles despite impressive displays on the international front particularly with the Cranes.
In a bid to ensure top-notch broadcasts, Supersport will invest in a broadcasting van, 12 top-class cameras and train over 40 staff to sustain the project.
SuperSport reveals they were attracted to the USL because of the competitiveness of the league and amount of talent coming through the ranks from the clubs.
“There is a lot of passion among the fans and excitement in Ugandan football that we will want to get behind and be part of,†Rathbone stated.
“Our relationship will look at four issues, excellency (games are covered at a high standard), quality, football development and raising the profile of the country. We will have a live and delayed game every week, a magazine show and interviews.â€
The USL will set up a development fund to support clubs and try to improve playing conditions, including the country’s stadia.
The amount transmitted to clubs may also vary on the basis of geographical distribution and project proposals from the clubs.
The broadcasting deal is expected to attract interest from the country’s corporate sector, with several players already reported to be seeking sponsorship for the competition.
Although Ecobank are the current league sponsors to a tune of $95,000 (sh225m), a number of corporate institutions are said to be lining up as part sponsors, which will mean more income for clubs and better pay for players, coaches and referees.
“This is a sign of confidence. It implies that the standards of football have improved. The timing could not have come at a better time,†Supersport managing director Charles Hamya divulged.
Aside from the gripping menu of top-notch Premiership football that SuperSport has guaranteed in recent years, the company also shows the Spanish La Liga, French Ligue 1, Italian Serie A, Kenyan Premier League, Nigerian Premier League, Ghana Premier League and the Uefa Champions League.
They also have all the tennis grand slams, the golf grand slams, athletics grand prix and Formula One.
The South African-based company also televises the South Africa Premier Soccer League (PSL), where Ugandan internationals Geoffrey Sserunkuuma, Timothy Batabaire and Denis Onyango are house-hold names.
Investment breakdown
Uganda Super League
Clubs: 50% (Sh600m)
Infrastructure:
25% (Sh300m)
Administrative costs:
25% (Sh300m)
Investment into Project
One OB Van: $3m (sh7.2b)
12 cameras:
Training 40 local staff: $40,000 (Sh95m)
FOR sometime now, a majority of Ugandan footballers have had to live like paupers.
Those that have been fortunate enough have fled the country and secured slightly better deals with clubs around East Africa —contracts much better than the peanut hand-outs afforded by the 14 clubs in the Ugandan Super League.
However, that should all change starting with the 2011/2012 season following Uganda Super League’s five-year $5m (sh12b) broadcasting rights deal with SuperSport International.
The Pay television channel will for starters invest over $1m (sh2.4b) into initiating the project –a significant investment outside the $1m (sh2.4b) a season deal of which more than 50% of the money will sink directly into the clubs.
“This is a new dawn for Ugandan football. The Ugandan league has become a great part of world football and we are proud to be investing in one of the most exciting leagues. It justifies our long term ambition and that is to ensure that African football takes over from European football,†Gary Rathbone, Supersport’s head of Africa broadcasting stated during a press briefing at Serena Hotel yesterday.
The deal, the biggest in Ugandan league football since Gateway Television’s (GTV) $5m (sh10b) sponsorship then in 2007, ushers in a new era in the local game which for the last two years has been embroiled in power struggles despite impressive displays on the international front particularly with the Cranes.
In a bid to ensure top-notch broadcasts, Supersport will invest in a broadcasting van, 12 top-class cameras and train over 40 staff to sustain the project.
SuperSport reveals they were attracted to the USL because of the competitiveness of the league and amount of talent coming through the ranks from the clubs.
“There is a lot of passion among the fans and excitement in Ugandan football that we will want to get behind and be part of,†Rathbone stated.
“Our relationship will look at four issues, excellency (games are covered at a high standard), quality, football development and raising the profile of the country. We will have a live and delayed game every week, a magazine show and interviews.â€
The USL will set up a development fund to support clubs and try to improve playing conditions, including the country’s stadia.
The amount transmitted to clubs may also vary on the basis of geographical distribution and project proposals from the clubs.
The broadcasting deal is expected to attract interest from the country’s corporate sector, with several players already reported to be seeking sponsorship for the competition.
Although Ecobank are the current league sponsors to a tune of $95,000 (sh225m), a number of corporate institutions are said to be lining up as part sponsors, which will mean more income for clubs and better pay for players, coaches and referees.
“This is a sign of confidence. It implies that the standards of football have improved. The timing could not have come at a better time,†Supersport managing director Charles Hamya divulged.
Aside from the gripping menu of top-notch Premiership football that SuperSport has guaranteed in recent years, the company also shows the Spanish La Liga, French Ligue 1, Italian Serie A, Kenyan Premier League, Nigerian Premier League, Ghana Premier League and the Uefa Champions League.
They also have all the tennis grand slams, the golf grand slams, athletics grand prix and Formula One.
The South African-based company also televises the South Africa Premier Soccer League (PSL), where Ugandan internationals Geoffrey Sserunkuuma, Timothy Batabaire and Denis Onyango are house-hold names.