Fam collects K123.3 million from Broadcasting rights venture

Football Association of Malawi in conjunction with Super League of Malawi has announced that the Mpira Television Project grossed K123.3 million in broadcasting rights the entire 2022 season. This represents 473 percent increase from the K26 million realised in 2021.. The 16 Super League teams that participated in the 2022 season will share K49.7 million…

Football Association of Malawi (Fam) in conjunction with Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has announced that the Mpira Television Project grossed K123.3 million in broadcasting rights the entire 2022 season.

This represents 473 percent increase from the K26 million realised in 2021.

Out of K123.3 million, K70.7 million was released through Mpira TV subscription whereas K32.1 million was from free to air.

Advertising and sponsorship released K18.2 million whereas K2.5 million was from digital media rights.

According to Fam, K61.1 million was total expenses whereas K62.1 was net revenue.

Fam Marketing and Commercial Director Limbani Matola said the association will focus on consolidating the gains this year.

“We managed to exponentially extend Mpira TV eyeballs through profitable strategic partnerships with Zuku, Azam and Fifa plus hence reaching out to millions of viewers beyond the stadium walls and digitally across the Fifa’s 211 member states.

“We will onboard Mpira TV on more profitable platforms, broadcast more live matches through additional dedicated OB vans covering South, Central and Northern regions and offer more inclusive and exciting programming,” Matola said.

The 16 Super League teams that participated in the 2022 season will share K49.7 million as their 80 percent share. The clubs will share the money equally which means each team will pocket over K3 million. Sulom and Fam each will get K6.2 million as 10 percent cut of the net revenue.

However, some Super Leagues clubs are slowly losing patience having waited for the money since last month.

Civil Service United General Secretary Ronald Chiwaula said it has been long overdue.

“It is a good development but we are surprised that clubs are yet to receive their shares. This raises a lot of questions. Again, it takes away excitement from the clubs,” Chiwaula said.

Wanderers Commercialisation Chairperson Clement Stambuli called for transparency on the deal.

“For starters, it is fine but in future we need to revise how the revenue is shared especially on Fam and Sulom percentage. It does not make sense for clubs to share 80 percent, yet Sulom and Fam got more money each,” Stambuli said

Silver Strikers Board Chairperson George Kaudza Masina expressed satisfaction with the revenue.

“For a start, this is a welcome development. The figure might look meagre, but it is an assurance that this is a revolution in football revenue emulating what is practiced world over,” he said.

This could be the first time for Super League teams to benefit from the Mpira TV after previous deals failed to generate resources.