Expensive television rights for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations may see fans in Ghana robbed off the opportunity of watching games in the comfort of their homes.
Right holder’s SportFive are reported to be demanding US$1.98m from local television stations in order to screen matches.
The amount according to the television broadcasters is way too expensive and will therefore require the intervention of the state just like it happened in the last edition in Angola.
With just a month to the biennial showpiece in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea the negotiation team led by state owned Ghana television are yet to secure the rights from SportFive.
It will be a major disaster if unable to do so considering it has been a regular fixture on television screens whenever the competition is around.
Screening is even made more crucial with the Black Stars tipped to win the tournament and surely, the majority of football fans who cannot afford pay-satellite television will be devastated if unable to witness the ‘crowing moment’ on free-to-air television.
The government of Ghana’s group D opponents, Botswana announced earlier this week it will not be buying television rights from the French company because the charges were too exorbitant.
This means the wider public in Botswana who are not able to afford satellite television will be denied the opportunity of witnessing the Zebras maiden outing at the Nations Cup.