NPFL, StarTimes Strike N1 Billion 5-Year Broadcast Rights Agreement

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has officially signed a N1 billion five-year broadcast rights deal with StarTimes, a prominent pay television service provider. This deal promises to bring top-tier Nigerian football to living rooms not only in Nigeria but also to enthusiasts around the world.

The momentous signing took place in Abuja, with key figures from the NPFL and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) joining hands with StarTimes management. President of the NFF, Ibrahim Gusau, expressed his elation, emphasizing the long-standing ambition to enhance the domestic league.

Gusau asserted that this broadcast deal is strategically designed to pique the interest of football fans, steering their focus towards the NPFL instead of international leagues like the English Premier League (EPL). He further assured that the NFF will work diligently to ensure that the Nigerian league gains global prominence.

While the original plan was to finalize the partnership before the commencement of the 2023/2024 NPFL season, comprehensive due diligence prolonged the process. The officials wanted to ensure that this deal would be the best possible for promoting the domestic league.

Gbenga Elegbeleye, the Chairman of the NPFL board, unveiled the financial aspect of the partnership, indicating that the deal with StarTimes would potentially see a yearly increment of N50 million from 2023 to 2028.

To gauge the waters, two matches per week will be broadcast live as a trial run starting from November 18, 2023. This coverage will expand in the subsequent seasons, with four matches per round in the 2023/2024 NPFL season, and eventually eight matches per round from 2025 to 2028. This extensive coverage demonstrates a firm commitment to elevating the NPFL’s visibility in the sports media landscape.

Joshua Wang, the CEO of StarTimes Nigeria, hailed this partnership as a significant milestone in the league’s history. He stressed that this is a win-win situation for both StarTimes and NPFL, with StarTimes committed to supporting the growth of the sports industry in Nigeria.

The ceremony was attended by several notable figures, including Mr. Li Xu Da, the Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy, Betty Iheabunike representing the Director General of NTA, former international footballer Daniel Amokachi, Mr. Danlami Ibrahim, NPFL Secretary, and other distinguished board members. This monumental deal holds the promise of transforming the landscape of Nigerian football and bringing it to a global audience.