TV rights grants throw ailing clubs a lifeline

Thato Kala | Sunday December 8, 2013 20:23

The broadcasting deal issue has been a burning issue in previous Premier League meetings before Botswana Football Association (BFA) and Botswana Television (Btv) sealed a P6 million deal recently. BPL chief executive officer Bennett Mamelodi confirmed they had paid clubs for the months of September, October and November.

This came after a board meeting on Wednesday resolved clubs would be paid their monthly grants of P30,000 each.

“It was resolved at the board meeting yesterday (Wednesday) that clubs be paid monthly grants.

I can confirm the monies were paid today (Thursday) for the months of September, October and November,” Mamelodi told Mmegi Sport. Mamelodi said the P30,000 was a standard fee paid to each club regardless of how often their games are screened live on television.

In other countries, the money is distributed based partly on performance, partly via equal shares of TV income and the number of times a club’s matches are screened live on domestic television.

The payout looks set to temporarily relieve clubs that are struggling financially especially with transport and accommodation.

Francistown outfit TAFIC had their players boycott training this week owing to outstanding monies. This was not the first time TAFIC did that.

They failed to fulfill a fixture against Motlakase last season. Notwane’s financial struggles are well documented, with players having gone for three months without their pay.

Miscellaneous were also reportedly struggling to pay salaries. Btv dashed SuperSport’s chances of winning the bid after the continental pay-per-view channel did a trial run last season which attracted differing reactions from local football circles.