Multichoice sports broadcasting unit SuperSport has cancelled its contract with the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) due to what the firm terms “KPL’s breach of the Licence Agreement entered into by the parties.”
This effectively means that there will be no live broadcast of KPL matches this year, something that many football fans and club’s officials have been anxious and concerned about with 2017 season already underway.
(TOP: A SuperSport crew during a live broadcast. Photo: MichezoAfrika).
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Since the season kicked off, SuperSport has only aired one match in round one while non of the partners – either SuperSport or KPL – gave an official position as to why the games were not being aired live as was the case previously.
It’s understood that Supersport Africa CEO Gideon Khobane has been in the country, meeting with KPL officials before the deal was terminated.
“The situation became untenable and it put SuperSport at risk therefore SuperSport has no option but to terminate the contract… Formal notice of cancellation of the contract has been given and all the necessary procedures and steps are being put in place to manage the exit from this league,” stated a brief statement issued by SuperSport.
Broadcasting company SuperSport have cut ties with Kenyan Premier League Limited.
Sports news website Goal reported KPL chairman Ambrose Rachier confirmed that they have received a letter from SuperSport informing them of the decision which comes ahead of the league’s round 4.
“The main reason for the fallout as per the letter is the upholding of Sports Disputes Tribunal’s ruling which increased the number of topflight teams from 16 to 18 starting 2017,” Rachier, who’s also the chairman of Gor Mahia FC, told Goal.
“SuperSport have, today, informed us via a letter that out contract with them is terminated. They say we violated the initial agreement by allowing two more teams into the league as was ruled by Sports Disputes Tribunal.”
The termination with 3 years still left to run in the contract which was extended 5 years in December 2014.
There are speculations to the fact that SuperSport had become uncomfortable with the presence of another league title sponsor, SportPesa, which has continued to have significant influence in the KPL.
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