Times Of Swaziland: MBABANE DERBY SET TO  MISS LIVE TV BROADCAST

MBABANE DERBY SET TO  MISS LIVE TV BROADCAST
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Mengameli Mabuza and Nimrod Hlophe on 09/11/2024 07:46:00


MBABANE – Blackout!
The highly-anticipated Mbabane derby will not be broadcast live tomorrow, as the
Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) and Eswatini Television Authority (ESTVA) have
reportedly failed to reach an agreement on broadcasting rights. Both
organisations confirmed that the match between Mbabane Highlanders and Swallows
is classified as a category ‘A’ event and was not included in the games
eligible for the pilot broadcast project announced on October 14, 2024. With
expectations high for a live television broadcast, fans have been left
disappointed. Negotiations reportedly broke down over the financial terms
associated with the broadcasting rights.
According to well-informed sources involved in the discussions, a potential deal
collapsed due to PLE’s demand for over E25 000 for the broadcasting rights.
“Despite engaging in negotiations, both parties failed to come to a consensus
on the terms of the broadcast agreement. The PLE believed this match should be
considered a category A game, given its popularity and the fierce rivalry
between the teams and, therefore, felt that ESTVA should have allocated a higher
value for the broadcasting rights,” the source explained.
ESTVA Senior Marketing and Communications Officer, Nomcebo Mbhamali, confirmed
the inability to secure the rights. “We have been working hard to broadcast
the game live, but unfortunately, it couldn’t happen. There were some
technicalities we had to consider, but we were unable to reach an agreement,”
Mbhamali stated. She further clarified that the Mbabane derby was not part of
the games they had agreed with PLE to broadcast as part of the pilot project.
Due to the financial implications of the broadcasting rights, she requested not
to elaborate further on the negotiations.
“Based on our assessment, we believe we are ready to broadcast games,
especially given the circumstances of our previous live broadcast of Highlanders
against Sisonkhe, which faced challenges due to bad weather and distance. If we
can overcome such obstacles, we will ensure improved broadcasts for future pilot
games provided by PLE,” she added. ESTVA also called upon football
stakeholders, especially businesses, to support the initiative by purchasing
advertising slots during the broadcasts. She encouraged the corporate sector to
seize opportunities for branding the studios during live game analysis.
It is worth noting that the station has successfully broadcast English Premier
League (EPL) matches on Saturdays, while Sundays have been reserved for local
football games. Broadcasting local football is part of ESTVA’s goal to
increase the airing of domestic content. Meanwhile, PLE Acting Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) Pat Vilakati confirmed the failure of the negotiations. “The
games included in the pilot project have been carefully selected based on
specific criteria, and unfortunately, the Mbabane derby does not fall into that
category,” he said.
One player interviewed by this publication expressed his disappointment at the
game’s absence from television. “It’s a big blow that the game will not be
shown live. Live broadcasts provide increased exposure and the opportunity for
players to showcase their talents to a wider audience. By not having the game
aired, we may lose out on recognition and the chance to advance our careers,”
he said.