Brace up for war! An epic battle for broadcast rights to the English Premier League (EPL) looms between the two major pay-TV operators in Nigeria – MultiChoice Nigeria, operators of DStv, and HiTV; now positioning themselves for lion shares of the rights for African continent, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can now reveal.
The EPL broadcast rights are currently divided between three pay-TV operators within the four African territories – with North Africa going to ShowTime Arabia, Nigeria going to HiTV, South Africa and the rest of Africa going to MultiChoice’s DStv.
Whoever wins the rights to air majority of the matches this time, will also win the hearts of most Nigerians crazy for the English Premier League.
In the about to end 2008/2009 season, HiTV has 80 percent of Premier League coverage in Nigeria, while MultiChoice owns rights to the other 20 percent.
The rights to majority of the live matches in the premiership are instant payoff for HiTV with a subscriber base of over 200,000 and growing. It is today one of Africa’s fastest growing direct-to-home (DTH)/pay-TV platform.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that the growth was also bolstered by the company’s subscription package priced within the reach of all classes of consumers.
Elsewhere, MultiChoice with just 20 per cent of live matches maintained its leadership of the local market with an avalanche of programmes being delivered under various service bouquets.
With another round of rights licensing around the corner, both major operators have now realized the potentials and power of EPL on subscribers and the growth of their operations, and are sparing no efforts for the majority rights.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered HiTV is pulling 11 other pay-TV operators in Africa in a consortium to acquire the broadcast rights to EPL. They are Yes TV, Star TV, Total Access, Skyy Media, Kiss FM, Zuku TV, VOX Africa, Next Generation Broadcasting, Imanle Africa, and several former GTV representatives.
The move will spearhead the development of a continent-wide technology and content backbone to allow individual countries in Africa to develop their own independent broadcasting market and tailor their solution (cost, content, language) to meet the demands of regional viewers.
Toyin Subair, managing director and CEO of HiTV, says: “The English Premier League draws more African viewers than any other genre of programming.”
MultiChoice however, is counting on its rich experience and tradition of excellent programming, and is going into the bid with the financial muscle of its South African based mother company.
Joseph Hundah, managing director, MultiChoice Nigeria, told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek in an interview that they would not rest until they regain the broadcast rights to EPL.
“We are going to bid for EPL rights as high as we possibly could. It is always regretful to lose any content you have, and we are certainly not going to leave any stone unturned in acquiring those rights back,” he said.