Kwesé signs deal with BON for FIFA World Cup broadcast

By : Editor

Date: 2 June 2018 5:14am WAT

(FILES) In this file photo taken on January 08, 2018 a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system pitch-side, is pictured prior to its use during the English FA Cup third round football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on January 8, 2018. The controversial Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system looks set to be used at the World Cup in Russia after international rules body IFAB gave it their backing on March 3, 2018. "The International Football Association Board unanimously approved the use of video assistant referees at its 132nd Annual general meeting," IFAB said in a statement. / AFP PHOTO / Glyn KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. /

Over 100m Nigerians to watch 32 free-to-air matches
Kwesé and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) have signed a Free-to-air TV Rights Sub-licence Agreement to provide the widest coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia on terrestrial television in Nigeria. The agreement will see over 80 terrestrial television stations broadcast the FIFA World Cup to an estimated 100 million Nigerian viewers.

Kwesé’s exclusive free-to-air channel, Kwesé Free Sports (KFS), is a 24-hour sports TV station that transmits on UHF channel 32 in Lagos but through this partnership, the channel’s reach will be extended to all 36 states of the federation with the BON network comprising 39 private broadcasters including the Africa Independent Television (AIT) network and the Silverbird Television network, and over 30 Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) network stations.

General Manager, Kwesé Free Sports Nigeria, Chichi Nwoko said: “By tuning to Kwesé Free Sports UHF 32 in Lagos, or any of the BON network stations, football fans will enjoy 32 of the 64 FIFA World Cup matches live, including all Super Eagles and African teams’ matches, as well as select matches from the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final stages.

“Kwesé Free Sports’ goal is to ensure that every Nigerian has the opportunity to enjoy the FIFA World Cup whether on television or radio, wherever they are in Nigeria”, she stated.

Kwesé Free Sports will provide the feed to BON member television stations across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. Consequently, a record number of football fans, who will not have access to watch the world’s biggest football tournament will enjoy 32 FTA matches on their local television station.

Chairman, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, Mr. John Momoh said: “BON is delighted to announce that it will broadcast the 2018 FIFA World Cup to all viewers.”

He added: “BON is committed to ensuring that all Nigerians can share, contribute and participate in enriching experiences through the dissemination of information using audio and video technology capable of reaching the audience simultaneously.

“We are focused on providing the best services to our audience and clients; and by combining the wide and national coverage of our members with Kwesé’s offering, means that we can ensure that all Nigerians have the opportunity to watch the matches and cheer on our Super Eagles during the FIFA World Cup when watching via free-to-air, regardless of their location in Nigeria,” Momoh stated.