The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has officially confirmed that StarTimes, a Chinese-owned pay-TV operator, will be resuming the broadcasting of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) starting in February. This announcement marks the end of several weeks of negotiations between the GFA and StarTimes, signaling the return of the company to Ghanaian football after losing its broadcasting rights last year due to financial disputes with the GFA.
StarTimes initially secured the broadcast rights for the GPL back in 2016 under a ten-year agreement valued at $17.9 million. However, complications arose in the partnership, leading to a suspension of coverage and a gap in live broadcasting for the league.
Nana Oduro Sarfo, a member of the GFA Executive Council, confirmed the news during an interview on Guide FM. Sarfo stated that the GFA had been in talks with various companies to handle the broadcasting of GPL matches temporarily, as there was no existing contract with a media house. However, with StarTimes set to resume broadcasting in February, all other arrangements will come to an end, and StarTimes will have exclusive rights to showcase the GPL matches.
In the interim, the Ghana Premier League has been available on several TV stations, including Metro TV, Original TV, Net2 TV, and AFA Sports. Despite this, concerns have been raised about the quality of the broadcast on these free-to-air channels, with reports indicating that clubs did not receive any financial benefits from the broadcasting deal.
With StarTimes back on board, fans can look forward to high-quality coverage of GPL matches and a more streamlined broadcasting experience. The partnership between the GFA and StarTimes aims to enhance the visibility of Ghanaian football and provide fans with access to top-tier football action. Stay tuned for more updates as StarTimes gears up to bring the GPL back to screens across the country.
