SUPERSPORT International is on schedule to launch its new Zambia studios in Lusaka in January – in time for next year’s African Under-20 Cup of Nations from 26 February to 12 March.
SuperSport’s southern Africa marketing manager Marlon Kananda says the new studios, currently being completed for an undisclosed amount, should be ready for production when the biennial competition, most recently won by Nigeria in 2015, kicks off.
“Our new studios should be ready for occupation in December and we will move in January,” Kananda told SunSport from the company’s Lusaka offices.
“When the Zambia Premier League starts we should be ready to handle the production.”
Like South Africa, Zambia is a football crazy nation. Fans closely follow the MTN/Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Premier League, as well as South Africa’s Premiership, which enjoys massive support in the neighbouring country.
The big difference between the two countries’ top flight leagues is that in the neighbouring country, football gets strong support and funding from the government, while in Mzansi the Premier Soccer League runs its own administration.
Kananda admits there were some obstacles with regard to the construction of their new studios, but prefers to call them “unique challenges”.
Said Kananda: “To kick off our administration in Zambia we had to bring in more than 100 experienced South Africans to help with production. But now 80% of our staff in terms of production is Zambian. Our preference is to employ locals.”
Kananda explains that when football leagues are still growing, local football proves popular. “In Zambia we are doing exceptionally well by showing more of the local leagues,” he said.
Last year, SuperSport concluded a US$1 million (almost R14m) per year deal with the country’s football association to acquire the broadcasting rights to the Zambian Premier League for the next five seasons and has not looked back.
It has been reported that the complete US$5 million (more than R69m) package boils down to a 17% increase on the previous deal between the two countries.
The football association has apparently promised that this increase will benefit the 16 clubs which make up the Super League, who currently each receive US$30 000 (almost R417 000) per year from the television deal, according to reports from Zambia.
The deal reflects Zambia’s growth in stature in African football in the last five years, with Zambia’s national Chipolopolo team winning the Caf Africa Cup of Nations in 2012.
Said Kananda: “Look at southern Africa now – two of the big markets are Zambia and Zimbabwe, who do live productions via our OB (Outside Broadcast) trucks. In Zimbabwe we have the Castle Premier League, which we broadcast. And in Zambia we have the FAZ Premier League, which we broadcast.
“In terms of production we are doing a lot in Zambia, while we are slowly building in Zimbabwe.”
He said SuperSport’s big aim now was to increase the number of productions via their platforms: “The content goes into cheaper (DStv) bouquets and locals prefer watching their local stars.
“There is a lot of excitement among Zambians when it comes to local content. People pack the stadiums to watch their local games – that is good TV in Zambia. The Zambia top flight is growing, trust me. We first started the partnership with FAZ in 2008 and have grown in terms of broadcasts.
“We started out broadcasting 10 games the entire season and now it’s 80 a season. This is the equivalent of eight matches in Zambia and 15 in Zimbabwe per weekend.
“In Zim football unified people in the struggle days. That is our focus as SuperSport: To bring people together, despite their political differences,” Kananda added.
