NPFL, StarTimes meet to resolve breaches in terminated N1b broadcast deal

Top officials of satellite television outfit, StarTimes, which terminated its N1 billion five-year broadcast arrangement with the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), are meeting with NPFL officials and other stakeholders to sort out the conflicts in the less than one-year partnership.

StarTimes terminated the partnership last week citing several breaches of the agreements in the contract by the NPFL.

The NPFL-StarTimes deal was aimed at promoting the Nigerian league and increasing its visibility through live broadcasts of the matches on satellite television.

Under the agreement, StarTimes was to broadcast two matches per week initially, increasing to four and eventually eight matches per round in subsequent seasons.

The partnership was expected to boost sponsorship opportunities and popularity, with the NPFL projecting a N50 million yearly increment from 2023 to 2028.

But the broadcast outfit terminated the deal last week, accusing the NPFL of not keeping to their side of the bargain.

Specifically, StarTimes complained that it has not been able to assess 30 per cent of the pitch panels as stipulated in the agreement, just as it also said that most times it finds it difficult to set up its equipment for games at match venues.

The firm also said that the NPFL’s penchant to cancel earlier advertised games at short notice affects its programs and obligations to its partners.

The Guardian could not reach the NPFL for the latest development on the conflict, as all calls and messages to some of its principal officers were not answered, but a source from within said that the league body and top officials of StarTimes are currently meeting to resolve the issues.

He said, “If we arrive at an agreement before this weekend’s games, we expect StarTimes to deploy its men to cover the league as usual.

“Top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and finance outfit, GTI, are involved in the efforts to keep the league on television.”