By Wycliff G;
National Broadcaster, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) has been forced into serious negotiations with the Confederations of African Football (CAF) to broadcast the remaining AFCON games on credit after failing to receive funds from government.
“They wanted us to pay upfront, which we couldn’t do because Government can only release money in the first quarter of next financial year,” UBC Managing Director, Winston Agaba said.
Agaba now says that UBC is negotiating with CAF and AUB – a professional body composed of the national radio and television organizations of the African States – to allow them broadcast games and pay when the government releases the money.
It is revealed that UBC had earlier began a live relay of the AFCON feeds valued at over Shs1bn hoping that the government would heed to the orders by the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga to release funds for broadcasting rights.
But unfortunately, after three games, the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB), which had given UBC an offer of 350,000 Euros (Shs1.5bn), cut the feed when no payments were made yet UBC channel was available for free on several Pay TV platforms.
However, Agaba is hopeful that by the time it gets to Cranes’ match against Zimbabwe on Wednesday night, Federation of Ugandan Football Association (FUFA) will have successfully triggered an agreement with AUB for the broadcasting rights to at least UBC.
We will keep you posted.
