Super League clubs and Super League of Malawi (Sulom) are set to finalise the issue of television broadcasting rights sharing among the clubs during Sulom’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) tomorrow in Lilongwe.
There have been diverse opinions among the clubs on how the revenue from the rights should be shared with other clubs opting for equal sharing and others going for unequal sharing.
Sulom General Secretary, Williams Banda, said while the main items on the agenda include reports from the treasurer, general secretary and the president on the past season, the clubs had raised other issues to be discussed, including that of broadcasting rights.
Banda said the resolution would be incorporated into Sulom’s new rules and regulations for the 2016 season.
In the past, Sulom owned all the broadcasting rights, but the arrangement has been changed with Sulom owning only 20 percent of the rights and the clubs sharing the remaining 80 percent.
“We are finalising consultations with the teams. We are only remaining with teams from the Northern Region to get their input. Other teams are arguing that they need to get a bigger share because of viewership and there are others who want to get their share according to their final position at the end of the season. We have to reach a consensus with the teams. There are a lot of issues to look at and the final resolution at the AGM will be adopted,” he said.
Banda said there have been suggestions to change the fixtures with some matches set to kick-off at lunch hour so that they could be broadcast live.
One of the clubs opting for equal sharing is Epac FC, whose General Secretary Chiyamiko Lita, confirmed their stance.
“Equal sharing will benefit all clubs regardless of status in the league. Those deemed to be small teams are struggling financially, therefore, they will benefit from this arrangement, unlike big guns that are enjoying good sponsorship,” Lita said.
Be Forward Wanderers General Secretary, Mike Butao, is also for equal sharing.
“The big clubs do not exist in a vacuum. We rely on the smaller clubs for us to be called big. We already have an advantage when it comes to match day revenue because our games are highly patronised. Let us share the broadcasting rights equally so that everybody benefits,” Butao explained.
Defending champions, Nyasa Big Bullets’ Acting General Secretary, Kelvin Moyo, said the club initially opted for a bigger share because they attract more advertisers and their matches are usually broadcast live.
“But after hearing several arguments, we are going to the AGM with an open mind. We will agree with whatever will be adopted. Our major concern is fluctuation of the kwacha. If the rights are in foreign currency, the money might lose the value at the end of the season. We need to work on that,” he said.
Sulom handed Beta TV Television broadcasting rights for three years, worth K266 million per season.
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