Mobile Telecommunications giants MTN has been announced as the exclusive right holders for the streaming of Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) games by Propel Sports Africa, www.aclsports.com reports.
This follows the recent announcement of the Joint Venture between the Nigeria Premier League Ltd, GTI and Propel Sports Africa to stream Nigeria Premier League (NPFL) games live.
The 2023/2024 NPFL season had been touted to commence in September but has suffered back to back postponement, with the latest being indefinite. But the news of MTN’s exclusive rights to streaming may serve as a pointer to a soon commencement.
According to Propel Sports, the streaming is expected to cover eight live games each weekend, which will translate to over 300 games per season.
“The engagement with the team at MTN has been amazing, from the Digital VAS, to the Marketing and Commercial team, their approach has been consistently professional, and their enthusiasm for the NPFL content has been infectious.
“From the very start of our negotiations, we knew MTN was the right partner to give our great content, the
platform it deserves,” said Chairman of Propel Sports Africa, Basil Kabbani.
The deal, concluded by Propel Sports Africa President, Edward Simons and MTN Chief Operating Officer Hassan Jabar, will include in-and-post-game highlights delivered in real time to MTN subscribers through the NPFL Live OTT platform.
MTN’s Chief Operating Officer Hassan Jaber stressed his company’s excitement at having the opportunity to serve their subscribers premium Nigerian football.
“We are excited about this opportunity to deliver entertaining content to our
subscribers. It is a testament to our commitment to sports development in Nigeria.
“We know Nigerians love football and we are glad to partner with Propel Sports Africa and GTI to deliver Nigerian Premier League matches in high definition to our customers. We are confident that this partnership will transform the reception and
appreciation of the Nigerian Premier league,” said Jaber.
Commenting for GTI, the Group Managing Director, Abubakar Lawal stated:
“This is the testimonial of the journey of the NPFL to the global space. The partnership is very good for the football ecosystem of Nigeria as we strive to deploy technology and efficient solutions to create value for all the stakeholders and other prospective partners of the league.”
Commenting for NPFL, the Chairman Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye said:
“The Nigeria Premier Football League is excited about the partnership potentials to elevate the league’s visibility and engagement. We are thrilled to welcome MTN as our exclusive telecommunications partner.
“Their (MTN’s) expertise and commitment to innovation align seamlessly with our vision for the league. With MTN’s support, we look forward to not only reaching a wider audience but also enhancing the overall experience for our dedicated fans.
“This groundbreaking collaboration marks a significant milestone in the realms of sports and technology,
promising an elevated viewing experience for football enthusiasts across the nation.
The partnership underscores a shared commitment to bringing the excitement of football closer to the hearts of millions of Nigerians. The partnership will also redefine how football is experienced, engaging fans in every goal, tackle, and victory with unparalleled clarity and convenience.”
No amount of money has been mentioned by any of the parties nor has it been stated what monetary gains will accrue to the clubs consequent upon the MTN exclusive streaming rights deal.
It has also been reported that PayTV company StarTimes have also tendered a bid in the region of 1.5bn Nairas a year for a possible broadcast deal for Nigeria’s top flight league.
