Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has banned live streaming of TNM Super League matches in a crackdown on illegal Internet broadcast of the local top-flight league action.

This follows an influx of live streaming of matches on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

Nyasa Big Bullets and Ekwendeni battling out in the TNM Super League

Sulom president Tiya Somba-Banda said in an interview on Tuesday live streaming of TNM Super League matches will only be allowed upon authorisation from the league runners.

He said: “No one has the permission to live stream our matches on internet or any mobile platform. Those that are doing that do not have our permission and should stop.”

Somba-Banda said the ban extends to those who bought television rights because the two are different.

He said: “You cannot acquire television rights and then take that signal on Facebook or YouTube or any social media platform. That is unacceptable.”

Football Association of Malawi marketing and broadcasting manager Tulipo Mwenelupembe said Sulom have the right to stop unauthorised live streaming of its matches.

He said: “Basically, media or broadcasting are in different categories. We have television, radio, mobile and Internet.

“So, yes Sulom have the right to stop anyone who is doing live streaming if they have not been authorised to do so.”

Mwenelupembe said even the television rights are further categorised into free-to-air and pay-television.

He said: “If you acquire free-to-air rights, you cannot use that signal for pay-TV and vice-versa. It’s not acceptable.”

Football marketing consultant Felix Ngamanya Sapao said Sulom has been losing out revenue through the illegal live streaming.

He said: “Sulom is 100 percent correct. OTT [over the top] media services which are offered directly to viewers via the Internet are a revenue stream to any sports entity that is commercial. OTT is a totally different entity unless the Rights owners include it in the package.”

One of the media houses affected is Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) who have been live streaming matches on Facebook.

In an interview on Tuesday, MBC director general George Kasakula said they would engage Sulom on the matter.

He said: “Stopping people from live streaming matches or asking for more money from those of us who are already buy the television rights is not a solution. Fighting will not take us anywhere. As an industry, let’s sit discuss this and find a solution.”

Silver Strikers Football Club confirmed they were informed to stop livestreaming the matches on Facebook.

Their chief executive officer Thoko Chimbali said: “We have engaged FAM on the way forward because what they are saying is that by live streaming the matches we are reducing the number of subscribers on Mpira Television.”

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