HARARE – The Premier Soccer League has hit the ZBC with an astonishing US$200,000 bill if it wants to broadcast live matches when the league resumes after more than a year.
Premier League chiefs this week held meetings with the state broadcaster as they plan to re-start live football without fans in stadiums.
The PSL is reportedly rekindling its sponsorship deal with Delta Beverages who are reportedly anxious to get mileage for their investment, and in the absence of watching fans Delta is leaning on the PSL to agree a broadcast deal.
PSL secretary Kennedy Ndebele told ZimLive on Saturday that “we are still negotiating” when asked about the outcomes of their discussions with the ZBC.
“The truth is that we need each other (with the ZBC). It’s good for their viewers, and of course we want our fans to follow matches on TV,” Ndebele said.
PSL insiders said the league offered the ZBC a radio and TV broadcast package worth US$200,000 – but the state broadcaster immediately pleaded poverty.
To illustrate what they felt was an “unreasonable” proposal, ZBC bosses reportedly told the PSL delegation that they had been offered the 2021 UEFA European Championship finals which get underway in Rome in June for just US$50,000.
“The ZBC instead proposed an advertising revenue share, whereas the PSL wants an advance lumpsum payment which is what hard-up clubs want. So far, there is no agreement,” a PSL source said.
ZBC acting CEO Halliate Rushwaya was positive a deal would be agreed.
“We’re in the middle of negotiations, but we look forward to a positive outcome. We need to give football to the people of Zimbabwe, and we’re the best broadcaster to deliver that,” Rushwaya said.
ZimLive understands the league has also held talks with the Zimpapers Television Network for a live streaming package, although no deal has been agreed.
Zimbabwe’s top flight has not had a TV broadcast rights deal since South Africa’s SuperSport pulled out at the expiry of a six-year deal at the end of the 2017 season.
The PSL has set out a plan to restart live football within weeks after Covid-19 disruptions which saw the 2020 seasons caned.
PSL chiefs have tentatively set May 16 as the date for the start of the league. The PSL has proposed that the league will assume a tournament format in which teams are pooled by region and play in four cities to cut on travel costs.
The top two teams will advance to the quarter finals.
The league hopes at the end of the tournament, planned to run for between six and eight weeks, it would have convinced health authorities and sponsors that it is safe to start the league proper – hopefully with watching fans.
The top-flight clubs are yet to adopt the proposals which will be discussed at the PSL AGM on May 1.
PSL Plan:
Group One for six Harare teams — CAPS United, Dynamos, Harare City, Herentals, Yadah and ZPC Kariba.
Group Two will have Bulawayo teams — Bulawayo Chiefs, Bulawayo City, Chicken Inn, and Highlanders.
Group Three will have Manica Diamonds and Tenax together with Black Rhinos and Cranborne Bullets.
Zvishavane will have the fourth group — FC Platinum, Ngezi Platinum Stars, Triangle United, and Whawha.
