StarTimes has unveiled the biggest ever single sponsorship in the history of Ugandan sport after remarkably securing the Uganda Premier League and FUFA Big League “Title and Broadcasting Rights” from FUFA for a staggering US$ 7,240,000 for 10 years starting with the 2018/2019 season.
Speaking at the launch on 9th August, the CEO of StarTimes Uganda, Mr Andy Wang explained: “The media and commercial rights also include public viewing broadcasts, distributing all content relating to audio, visual and audio-visual transmissions of matches through all platforms and in all forms of distribution. These include but are not limited to digital terrestrial transmission, cable, radio, IPTV, OTT, Internet, mobile and satellite transmission. The territory in respect of these rights to StarTimes are global.”
“We took the decision to give back to the people of Uganda through football because of their passion for the game. It touches a lot of people from the grassroots. It is our way of thanking the public for supporting our business and making us the leading pay television with 70% market share (1,3 million subscribers) after a short period of 8 years.”
On his part, the FUFA President Mr Moses Magogo was full of praise for StarTimes and thanked them for the endorsement this gesture has given to FUFA’s leadership: “The enabling environment that FUFA has created by improving the image of local football and setting in place visible systems and structures to improve the game is now paying off. Sponsors are strategic stakeholders in football and it’s incumbent upon the football fraternity, leaders, players and everyone to support StarTimes who have selflessly demonstrated their goodwill to see Ugandan football progress with this historic sponsorship.”
StarTimes on air football content is broadcast on World Football, Sports Premium, Sports Focus and Sports Life channels. After successfully broadcasting the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 as official broadcast partners, StarTimes will also broadcast the Germany Bundesliga exclusively and French Ligue 1 for the 2018/19 season
The Vice President of StarTimes Uganda company, who is in charge of branding and marketing, Mr Aldrine Nsubuga said: “We however don’t just want to entertain football fans with foreign football, we want to be relevant to local football fans. We want them to appreciate their local football and support it with a greater passion which is why we want to bring the local league in every household through our broadcast platforms.”
Mr Nsubuga summed up the whole sponsorship: “The legacy we want to leave behind in the Ugandan local communities is the support towards the development of football –the game that unites the whole country without bias. A strong top division league reflects on the strength of our national team the Cranes.”