AFCON lifeline for Btv...as SportFive agrees to reduce price

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Wednesday December 21, 2011 00:00

National team sponsors, Orange Botswana are said to be considering buying the rights on behalf of the national broadcaster.

Sources close to the negotiations between SportFive and Btv revealed that the French company has reduced the asking price to P6 million. Government spokesperson Dr Jeff Ramsay confirmed the reduction but said he was not sure of the exact figure. He said they were still in negotiations with SportFive.'I can't confirm the figure but they have reduced, we are still in discussions,' Dr Ramsay said.

Orange public relations manager, Pierce Kuhlman said once they get the figure they will consider chipping in to assist. 'It (the figure) will go to Btv then BFA (Botswana Football Associatio) and then we will hear about it. We are waiting to see how much the price is and we can see where we can help,' Kuhlman said

Last week, football fans in the country appeared to have been denied the chance to watch their country's maiden appearance at next month's AFCON after government announced it would not buy broadcasting rights from the French company.The government said the asking price was unreasonable. This came after negotiations between SportFive and Btv, which depends on the government for funding, were unsuccessful.But this week, SportFive is said to have agreed to reduce their asking price by more than half.The Zebras have been drawn in Group D at the finals alongside Ghana, Mali and Guinea.

Botswana are not just the only African country suffering from SportFive's crippling financial demands.During the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola, Btv were ordered to stop broadcasting the finals after failing to secure broadcast rights - with SportFive expressing concern that the broadcaster was illegally screening the games after beaming the opening match live.