Total Promotions kicks against NPFL broadcast deal

Total Promotions Nigeria Limited has threatened legal action against StarTimes over the recently signed broadcast agreement with the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

The controversy over the broadcast rights ownership of the league is coming as the Nigeria Premier Football League prepares for its return to TV on Sunday.

StarTimes and the NPFL earlier this month signed a five-year deal worth N6bn to bring the country’s elite league back on television, with the match-day eight game between Akwa United and Remo Stars at the Eket Township Stadium on Sunday November 19 the first that would be broadcast live by StarTimes.

However, in a letter to StarTimes titled ‘Re-Television Broadcast Rights for the Nigerian Premier League/Nigeria Football League’, Total Promotions claimed that the broadcast rights still resided with them, stating that there were also legal injunctions preventing any other party to tamper with such.

“We write to inform you that the property you claimed to have signed is not available as it is, at the very least, still residing in Total Promotion against any parties tampering with the Broadcast Right between Total Promotions Nigeria Limited and Nigeria Football League Limited in Suit No: LD/997/2013,” the letter read in part.

Also Read: NPFL, StarTmes sign broadcast deal

The letter also drew the attention of StarTimes to the Nigeria Football act as the only legal authority by law governing football in Nigeria, saying by the act, the Nigeria Football Association conferred on the Nigeria Football Limited (not NPFL) the right to run the Premier League.

The 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League season commenced September 30 with matches currently being streamed with AI cameras installed at match venues while the television broadcast on StarTimes commences Sunday.

StarTimes has launched a new high-definition channel, Beta Sports, for the live coverage of the league.