Terrestrial broadcast rights still open for grabs

The marketing sub-committee for the 20th National Sports Festival tagged Edo 2020, says broadcast signals are still available for interested television stations for a fee.    

Supersport Nigeria was named the host broadcaster for the festival and will beam live to millions of Nigerians and other sports lovers across the African continent on pay television, but the chairman of the marketing subcommittee, Mike Itemuagbor, says signals for terrestrial broadcasting of the event are still available on first-come, first-served basis.           
“This is to let television stations in Nigeria know that signals for the broadcast of the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival on terrestrial television are available. Interesting television stations should contact the marketing subcommittee for discussion.

“We are aware they pay to air international sports events. This is the international standard and Nigeria cannot pretend to be different when it comes to broadcasting and media rights for events organised in Nigeria by Nigerians,” said Itemuagbor, who wants history to remember Edo State and organisers of the 20th National Sports Festival for redefining everything about sports marketing, broadcasting and media rights.                 

“We want to use the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival to not only redefine the technical and administrative organisation of such a multi-sports event but also want to redefine broadcasting and media rights for the biggest sporting event in Nigeria,” he added.                       

“We know for most sports organisations, the sale of the broadcasting and media rights is now the biggest source of revenue, generating the funds needed to finance major sporting events, refurbish stadiums. This is what we want to use the Edo 2020 to correct and we believe we have started in the right direction.”

The opening and closing ceremonies of the festival, including finals of the football event for men and women and major events in track and field, including the men and women’s 100m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays, will be beamed live to Nigerians and the entire African continent.   

“We want to enable millions of people and the world to take part in the spectacle and excitement the 20th National Sports Festival will generate,” said Itemuagbor.