The nation’s television has opened up why they feel shocked after missing out on the Premier League’s TV rights
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation has revealed that they feel shocked after Chinese television company StarTimes were awarded the rights to cover Ghana Premier League and FA Cup ahead of them despite having a better offer.
On Wednesday, Ghana FA announced that StarTimes will pay $5.25 million to have the rights until 2025 which is $1,050,000 annually something the State-owned company feels cheated.
In a press statement signed by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Dr Mamle Asare, they offered more money than what has been accepted by Ghana FA and feels Ghanaians are on the disadvantage of this move since GBC will not even have the right to telecast highlights or delayed games of the league.
“Ghana Broadcasting Corporation put in a bid which we are certain was superior to what the StarTimes is said to have submitted. As published on the GFA website, StarTimes offered to pay UDS 5,250,000 which comes up to USD 1,050,000 annually whilst GBC made a financial offer of USD 1,100,000 annually,” the statement said.
“It is for this and other reasons that we received the news with disappointment and shock. Apart from GBC’s superior financial offer, we thought that the Premier League and FA Cup content would have been treated like a national treasure and given to the national broadcaster and a consortium of local broadcasters,” the statement said.
“GBC wishes to put it on public record that the national broadcaster and the local TV Consortium have been treated unfairly and unjustly. The GFA decision will gravely impact on Ghanaians’ access to the Ghana Premier League and FA Cup live games on Free-to-Air (FTA) broadcast”.
