GFA, StarTimes sign $17.9m broadcast deal
Africa’s leading pay-TV operator, StarTimes Group, last Tuesday signed a ground-breaking media agreement with the Ghana Football Association (GFA), vowing to promote the Ghana Premier League in sub-Saharan Africa and help in the development of the game in the country in the coming decade.
According to the strategic partnership agreement reached in Beijing, China, StarTimes acquires all media rights of the Ghana Premier League, the Gala, the National Division One League, the MTN FA Cup, the Ghana Women’s League and the Ghana Juvenile League for the next 10 years.
According to a press statement by the GFA, StarTimes will pay $17,950,000 for the deal, provide 10 artificial pitches and a fully equipped modern OB van for the GFA over the next 10 years.
StarTimes will invest more in the production of programmes on the Ghana Premier League and broadcast more matches of the league in Ghana and other African countries.
“StarTimes is a world brand and well-known in the whole of Africa. Ghana football is also a well-known brand and our national team is one of strongest powers in Africa,” said Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the GFA, who noted that the partnership between StarTimes and the FA would improve the development of football in Ghana.
“We authorise media rights of all major leagues or tournaments under Ghana Football Association to StarTimes. And StarTimes will deeply involve itself in the production and promotion of these leagues and bring much investment to our country,” he said.
The President of StarTimes Group, Pang Xinxing. told reporters at the signing ceremony: “The partnership between StarTimes and Ghana Football Association is not only the cooperation between the two sides, but also the starting of cooperation between China and Africa in the football industry.”
Pang noted that Ghana football had stayed at a high level in world football by playing at the World Cup finals three times in succession and winning the African Cup of Nations for four times, stressing the partnership would benefit from such an experience.
.“We would like to bring more excellent football matches to nearly nine million subscribers of StarTimes in Africa and we may introduce the Ghana Premier League to Chinese football fans in the future, being a bridge between Chinese and African sports industries,” he said.
—ghanafa.org