The Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) is currently negotiating with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to allow it broadcast the African Cup of Nation tournament on credit.
The development follows Government’s failure to avail the required Shs1 billion to the national television to get broadcasting rights.
According to local online news website-Uganda Radio Network, UBC Managing Director Winston Agaba, explained that the station had engaged the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB), which gave them a final offer of Euros 350,000, earning a 53 percent discount from their initial offer.
AUB is a professional body composed of the national radio and television organizations of the African States involved in the exchange of indigenous programming. Now, URN has learnt that UBC is negotiating with CAF and AUB to permit them to show the games and pay when government releases the money.
Agaba told URN that they were negotiating to show the games and pay when Government releases the money in the first quarter of next financial year.
“They wanted us to pay upfront, which we can’t because Government can only release money in the first quarter of next financial year” Agaba said.
FUFA had signed an agreement with AUB guaranteeing payment of the funds to enable UBC broadcast the first games. He said they are in touch with FUFA and are hopeful that the games will be broadcast. Agaba says there hope is that they will broadcast, the Uganda Crane’s game against Zimbabwe today [Wednesday].
He says AFCON keeps coming up with different parameters in regards to broadcasting. URN has also learnt that CAF wants assurance that UBC feed is off all Pay TV platforms.
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
