Startimes was only broadcast offer for NPFL- Elegbeleye

For the umpteenth time, the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has said the broadcast rights deal signed with Startimes was not just the only offer it received at the time but the best negotiated partnership that came after over six years of the league’s absence on television.

The chairman of the league board, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, is said to have made this submission in response to a story which suggested that the NPFL had snubbed a broadcast deal worth $11million

“When the Interim Management Committee (IMC) which I headed came on board, there was not a single sponsorship for the league but we later got an investment partner in GTI that guaranteed N1billion for the season”, Elegbeleye stated.

He recalled that amongst several other terms of reference, the IMC was mandated to secure television broadcasts for the league.

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“It is on record that the last effective broadcast partnership the NPFL had was with Supersport and it was terminated in 2016. Thereafter the league went on without a proper broadcast partner until we signed Propel Sports Africa for streaming and shortly after, Startimes for Direct to Home Satellite broadcast.

“We spent time and personal resources travelling to court Corporate Nigeria to sponsor the league with our investment partners, GTI and we invested in efforts to rebrand the league.

“A consultant was hired for venue branding which offers in-stadium exposure to our potential sponsors and a website was also built for viral exposure. So, where was this phantom $11m dollar briefcase offer all the time”, queried the NPFL Chairman.