PSL, Supersport seal six-year deal

“SuperSport International (Pvt) Ltd and the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League today announced a landmark broadcast rights deal,” read the statement.
“In terms of the agreement, SuperSport will broadcast league and cup matches played during the remainder of the 2012 football season and during the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 seasons.

“SuperSport will broadcast the fixtures via all platforms, including television, mobile and Internet through sub-Saharan Africa and the adjacent islands.
“SuperSport now broadcasts local league football played in Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe.”
This puts the Zimbabwe Premiership deal at par with the one SuperSport International signed with the Uganda Premier League, whose entire package is worth about US$1 million a year.

SuperSport International pumps about US$800 000 a year, into the Zambian Super Division, but it could not be established yesterday whether the package also takes care of the production costs.
The Zambian Super Division is also sponsored by MTN Zambia, which in June announced a 2.4 billion kwacha (about US$480 000), as their sponsorship package this year for both Chipolopolo and the top-flight league with the winner of the championship race getting about US$50 000.

With Dynamos collecting US$75 000, for winning the Premiership title last year under the sponsorship deal between the PSL and Delta Beverages through their Castle Lager brand, it appears the domestic Premiership is still, to some extent, better sponsored compared to the one in Zambia.
And the arrival of SuperSport International to not only inject a considerable amount into the coffers of the clubs but, crucially, provide a broadcast medium that can parade the talents of the local players to a bigger audience across Africa, is likely to be a huge boost to the domestic Premiership.

The publicity guaranteed by SuperSport through its television, mobile and internet platforms, also acts as a magnet for other major sponsors to come on board and be partners of the game as they are assured that their brands will be beamed to a huge audience.

The top-flight leagues in Kenya, Zambia and Uganda have all witnessed a huge increase, in corporate partners coming on board, after tying broadcast rights deals with SuperSport International.

The local players will also now be able to showcase their talent, to a wider audience at regular intervals, giving the most talented of the lot brighter chances of being spotted by agents and clubs that could be interested in securing their services.
Brandon Foot, the head of Acquisitions and Legal at SuperSport, said in the same joint statement that they were pleased with the development.

“We are excited to be breaking new ground with our northern neighbours,” said Foot.
“There is tremendous future potential in Zimbabwe and we believe the investment will grow and mutually benefit both parties.”
Twine Phiri, the PSL chairman, said this was a landmark development in Zimbabwean football.

“It is wonderful that a world-class broadcaster, such as SuperSport, is now our broadcast partner,” said Phiri in a statement.
“We received excellent feedback from our stakeholders after SuperSport had transmitted a few of our fixtures in the past.
“This long-term deal will ensure the sustainability of our league and, no doubt, be very attractive for sponsors.”

The Harare businessman told The Herald that it was one of his management committee’s key goals to take the domestic Premiership onto the SuperSport bouquet.
“This is a big deal for us because you don’t have to look at it just on the figures that will come straight into our coffers but on the massive potential commercial spin-offs that could be triggered by a marriage with a reputable partner like SuperSport International and the massive reach across Africa that it offers,” said Phiri.

“What we now have is an electronic medium to market our product to the continent and it offers massive opportunities for companies and sponsors to come on board and be our partners now.
“I believe we are about to see the first step of a revolution in our football, where things will start getting better for our clubs and our players and officials.”

Zimbabweans based in other parts of Africa will also now be able to see their favourite local football clubs in action, in the domestic league and cup matches, from their foreign bases.