Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has said it has registered a 415 percent increase in Mpira TV broadcasting rights revenue for the 2022 season.

In an interview yesterday, FAM commercial director Limbani Matola said this year the association has raked in K103 million compared to the previous season’s K20 million.

He said: “We anticipate to double the revenue realised. We just successfully on-boarded Mpira on Zuku, Azam and Fifa plus channels in the last quarter of 2022 and we will realise full benefits in the year 2023.

“It must be underscored that the K103 million realised from Mpira TV alone beats any competition sponsorship value on our local scene. The revenue will be shared equally. Clubs agreed on equal revenue share. This was agreed during consultative meetings at the inception of the Mpira TV project. The future looks excitingly bright.”

Civo United’s Damiano Kunje (L) and Silver Strikers Duncan
Nyoni in a previous TNM Super League match

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) president Tiya Somba Banda described the development as great.

“TV broadcasting rights in Malawi have never grossed over K20 million, but in 11 months we have hit K100 million. We will definitely close somewhere close to K120 million and next year we have the potential to hit K250 million if we align our marketing strategy with both clubs and broadcasters,” he said.

Explaining the broadcasting rights revolution, Somba Banda said FAM and Sulom, through Mpira TV decided to put all broadcasting rights in one pot.

He said: “Looking at past trends, we noticed that if each competition has its own separate TV rights business plan then it will not be profitable. Therefore, that’s when FAM and Sulom decided to put all TV broadcasting rights into one pot in order to create value for team regardless of who has played in which competition. We had to start from somewhere and this is the best place to start.”

Nyasa Big Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga described the increase as an explosion in TV broadcasting rights revolution.

“This is significant headway as we are making substantial revenue on record. It also shows the project will continue to grow to desired levels,” he said.

However, Chigoga said there is still more room for improvement to exploit maximum football

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viewership and also rework on sharing model.

He said: “There is need to do the utmost in ensuring that all the match venues across Malawi are covered next season. There has been an outcry that only Blantyre and Lilongwe have been covered in the recent season.

“The biggest problem in my view is a revenue sharing model. The broadcasting revenue is pooled and all the teams irrespective of whether some of them have not had their matches beamed receive equal shares. This has to be agreed prior to the start of the season and not after we have collected the revenues.”

However, football analyst George Kaudza Masina said more needs to be done.

“Much as these figures surpassed the K100 million mark, these figures are not inspiring for an elite league. At the same time, FAM has to be commended for the initiative. It my belief that going forward. Football is going to win,” he said.

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