KPL to get improved Supersport deal

By FP CORRESPONDENT

It is good news yet again for local football as the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) is set to receive an improved offer from television rights holders SuperSport.

The new deal will be announced next week during a joint press conference between KPL officials and the South African firm.

It follows a successful lobbying by KPL officials in South Africa last week.

Most of the KPL officials we spoke to declined to reveal how much they have been given in the new deal, only insisting that ‘it is the best in the region’.

"We have negotiated for a better deal and the clubs will be very happy.

"This new deal with transform local football and put us at another level," revealed KPL chairman Elly Kalekwa.

Kalekwa, however, declined to reveal how much they had been offered, insisting the figures can only come out at next week’s press conference.

Mathare United chairman Bob Munro echoed Kalekwa’s statement, by terming the new deal the best they could have.

Other KPL officials on the mission to renew the television deal are Jack Oguda (Chief Executive Officer) and Gabriel Otiende (Sony chairman).

The new deal is expected to be a major increase on the current Sh932million four-year deal.

From the current deal, Sh340million go directly to the clubs, while another Sh552million is used on other aspects of the competition, including new media rights, productions costs and website maintenance.

Under the old deal clubs are offered grants of about Sh3million per year. Another Sh3million is offered to the winners of the league.

The deal was supposed to come up for renewal next year, but SuperSport, impressed by the revolution experienced in the local league, asked to give the KPL a better and bigger deal.

Despite its popularity, the KPL has still failed to nab a title sponsor three years on.

Beverage firm Coca-Cola was expected to come on board as title rights sponsors this season.

But sources in KPL said Coca-Cola held up the deal owing to their massive involvement in the just concluded 2010 World Cup and are expected to come on board next season.

Related Topics

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