Btv fails to clinch belated AFCON deal?

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Friday January 22, 2010 00:00

The tournament reaches the quarterfinal stage this weekend in Angola but so far, Btv has failed to show matches. It is reported that Btv was making frantic efforts to clinch a belated broadcasting deal but a source close to the negotiations said the talks have collapsed meaning Batswana have to turn to other media to watch the games. Only locals with access to satellite television have been able to watch the continental soccer showpiece.

Rights holders, Sports Five were said to be demanding 3.5 million Euros for the broadcasting of the three-week tournament.

But Btv was holding out for a lower price, hoping that it will get its way after the tournament started. Some television stations in southern Africa like the cash-strapped Zimbabwe Television (Ztv) managed to negotiate a lower price of just over 280,000 Euros. Reports from Zimbabwe indicate that the price was lowered after the intervention of the African Broadcasting Union (ABU).

The continental broadcasters union negotiated a reduction in the rights fees with AFNEX, the French company entrusted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to handle the rights issue. South African television station, SABC had to fork out R367 million to broadcast the games after a protracted stand-off with the rights holders.