Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has advised local television and production companies to go for a joint bid following CAF’s invitations to tender for broadcast and television services across selected events.

Confederation of African Football (CAF) has invited tenders for 2023, 2024 and 2025 competitions, including its flagship event, the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) and inter-club competitions which Malawi is expected to participate in.

Nthakomwa: We have the capacity

Other competitions includeTotalEnergies Africa Women Cup of Nations, 2024 TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship, 2023/24 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, 2023/24 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup and 2023 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League.

CAF said in a statement statement: “The tender process will allow CAF to select the companies that are best placed to achieve CAF’s objectives of providing world-class coverage of the tournament and offering fans in Africa and internationally a high-quality viewing experience across a range of fields, including host broadcast production, satellite distribution and graphics.”

Mibawa Limited chief executive officer John Nthakomwa said Mibawa Studios, a subsidiary of the company that also owns Mibawa Television, will tender its bid for production of matches.

“We have a lot of capacity, we have been holding back because you need to invest in line with the return,” he said

Currently, Mibawa Studios is the only firm that CAF and Fifa have in the recent past engaged to produce both local and international matches in the country.

The firm currently produces local matches for FAM-owned Mpira Television and Fifa+, a live streaming platform for the world football governing body.

Nthakomwa said the international experience in football production is enough for them to go for the major tournaments.

He said: “So far, the success has been with the international productions. We have proven to be capable of delivering and we know where the challenges lie which can easily be resolved by investment if the income is guaranteed.”

But FAM broadcasting manager Tulipo Mwenelupembe advised Mibawa to go for a joint bid.

He said: “Our own production houses can bid for such services. But they don’t have capacity, unless if it is a joint bid with other producers.

“You need an outside broadcast [OB] van and production equipment at each match venue. Yet Mibawa only has two, but only one that meets CAF standards.”

Mwenelupembe said local media companies can also go for free-to-air services if they are unsuccessful in production bids.

He said: “Mibawa Television is free-to-air and can engage Africa Union Broadcasting, CAF’s authorised free-to-air rights agent, to sell them the rights.”

But Nthakomwa said Mibawa is no longer interested in free-to-air broadcasting rights.

He said: “As Mibawa, we will not participate in any purchase of rights for games for advertising.

“We have been there and lost a lot and, therefore, understand what is at stake. The advertising market in this country does not make this a sustainable model.”

On his part, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation public relations manager Chisomo Mwamadi said they are yet to decide on what to bid on.

He said: “We are still working on this one to see how best we can give Malawians a chance not to miss such tournaments. We are looking into it.”

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