PLE, Eswatini TV in raw deal

The actual deal was worth E2 000 000 but it failed midway through and the two parties even threatened to take it other to court to force payment of the whole amount.

The station tried to pay and ended up at E1.4 million and then remained with a balance of E600 000.

The deal was intended to help the premier league teams to generate revenue through it.

The two entities recently signed yet another deal at Sigwaca House worth E512 000.

This deal gave the station the rights to broadcast live clips that it would use for its sports bulletin.

It was signed by PLE Chairman Mark Carmichael and Eswatini TV Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kenneth Maziya on behalf of their organisation, marking the renewal of a ‘marriage’ which had dissolved not long after the initial failed deal was launched.

Deal

PLE Chairman Mark Carmichael described the latest deal during its launch as ‘ground-breaking one that would help the PLE cross the bridge’ to professionalism and financial independence.

“It is inappropriate to divulge financial obligations with contractual partner. We are currently in a contract together,” Carmichael responded when asked about the initial debt as indicated in the Ministry of Finance report.

Meanwhile, PLE CEO, Makhanya said it was true that the station owed his organisation the said amount in respect of a broadcast right deal.

However, he was already leaving office and promised to send his full response and when later called, he was not picking up.

Meanwhile, it is worth mentioning that the news of the E600 000 debt comes at a time when the station just signed a new agreement with the PLE for same purpose in the MTN Premier League ongoing games.

The new deal is worth E512 000 and Eswatini TV is expected to foot a E64 000 bill to the PLE monthly, which in turn should benefit the teams directly and indirectly.

However, at least two team officials asked about the television fees said they were not aware of the benefit thus far since it was launched in early April this year.

Unfortunate

They said it was unfortunate that they did not even have the details about how they were meant to benefit and how much was the sharing ratio.

There was no immediate comment from the television station’s PRO Nompumelelo Dlamini as she did not answer her cellphone when called.

However, in the AG’s report it is shown that the TV station’s management indicated that the non-payment was due to cash flow problems.

Also worthy of a mention is that the initial deal failed on its first weekend, the game to be aired was between Manzini Wanderers and Young Buffaloes at the currently closed Somhlolo National Stadium.

The station’s sports crew had come to the stadium with their outside broadcast unit vehicle but failed to go live as they claimed to be experiencing technical problems.

(Additional information Chris Dlamini) A TABLE SHOWING ESWATINI TV DEBTS by