PLE eyes SuperSport’s over E1bn riches
The PLE recently clinched a deal with the globally known sports broadcasting channel to have a show that will showcase local football across the globe. Media Mora is the company that will take the content to SuperSport who monitors the viewership and assesses it for purposes of buying the product.
That deal is worth E1 billion when at the present stage, it is the PLE paying to market its football product as well as the country’s tourism as other partners in the agreement.
The first episode premiered yesterday at 5pm on SuperSport Variety and SuperSport GOtv 2, which was broadcasted in over 49 countries in Africa as well as abroad in China and the United States of America (USA). Dube said they were hopeful that the first episode would encourage the business community to join football in this initiative to showcase their products.
“The PLE has created a vehicle for not only football but also the corporate world to showcase their products through this show in the world,” Dube said.
He said they were happy as Media Mora to eventually premiere the first episode and were hopeful that the next one would be better.
“As you saw today that the show played for 26 minutes, with the other four minutes reserved for commercials and it was watched by over 49 countries here in Africa. The show must get good viewership and impress SuperSport with it,” he said.
Impressed
He also said once SuperSport was impressed with the viewership, they as Media Mora would then leave the channel to discuss with the PLE over a possible broadcast rights partnership as it has happened with the Ethiopian League, where they clinched a E1.6 billion deal through broadcast rights.
“Ours as Media Mora is to identify the countries and do such a deal and if the numbers are attractive, we then leave it to SuperSport to engage with the football organisation of that country,” he said.
Dube then hoped that the PLE deal would yield the desired numbers so that it could possibly clinch the over E1 billion deal with the pay-per-view channel in the near future. He further encouraged the business corporate world to partner with PLE as they would benefit too in this deal and congratulated the PLE for this important step towards commercialising football in the country.
Dignitaries
The event was attended by Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Minister, Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga, among other dignitaries. PLE Chairman Mark Carmichael attributed the whole deal to the late Victor Gamedze who opened the doors to this avenue while still alive and leading the organisation as its chairman.
“This deal is an opportunity for every liSwati, all sports and the corporate business world to grow their talents and products across the globe,” he said.
The organisation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kenneth Makhanya, also called for corporate partners to join them and advertise their products through the show while acknowledging the viewership was very important for local football given what is at stake.