StarTimes to pay $17,950,000 to telecast GPL

GNA – Africa’s leading pay-TV operator StarTimes Group has secured media rights from the Ghana Football Association (GFA), with a sum of $17,950,000 to promote the Ghana Premier League (GPL) in sub-Sahara Africa and help in the infrastructural development of the game in the West African country.

Under the strategic partnership agreement, StarTimes is expected to promote the 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.

StarTimes will pay $17,950,000 for the deal, provide ten artificial pitches and a fully equipped modern OB van to the GFA for the stipulated period.

StarTimes will invest more in the production of programmes in the elite 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 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, noting that the partnership between StarTimes and Ghana Football Association is looking forward to improving development of football in Ghana.

He added that “We authorize media rights of all major leagues or tournaments under GFA to StarTimes. And StarTimes will deeply involve itself in the production and promotion of these leagues and bring much investment to our country.”

President of StarTimes Group, Pang Xinxing at the signing ceremony noted “The partnership between StarTimes and Ghana Football Association is not only the cooperation between the two sides, but also a starting of cooperation between China and Africa on football industry.”

Pang mentioned that Ghana football has stayed at a high level in world football by playing at World Cup finals three times in succession and winning African Cup of Nations for four times.

“We would like to bring more excellent football matches to nearly 9 million subscribers of StarTimes in Africa and we may introduce GPL to Chinese football fans in the future, being a bridge between Chinese and African sports industries.” He said.

StarTimes is an experienced TV operator in football broadcasting. In 2015, StarTimes signed an exclusive broadcasting contract with the German Bundesliga and the International Champions Cup (ICC) for 5 successive years. StarTimes has exclusive rights and got the rights to televise the French Ligue 1 and the Italian Serie A for all Sub-Saharan countries

In June 2016, StarTimes also signed an exclusive broadcasting contract with the Chinese Super League for three successive years and acquired media rights to provide extensive coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa of the European Qualifiers for 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.

StarTimes is the leading digital-TV operator in Africa, covering 90% of the continent’s population with a massive distribution network of 200 brand halls, 3,000 convenience stores and 5,000 distributors. StarTimes owns a featured content platform, with 440 authorized channels consisting of news, movies, series, sports, entertainment, children’s programs, fashion, religion etc.

GNA