GFA signs $17,950,000 TV sponsorship deal with StarTimes

The Ghana Football Association has signed a ten-year media sponsorship deal with

StarTimes will cover the Ghana Premier League, the FA Cup, the National Women’s League, the National Division One League and the Ghana Juvenile League within the ten-year period.

“StarTimes is a world brand and well-known in the whole Africa. Ghana football is also a well-known brand and our national team is one of strongest powers in Africa,” said Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of Ghana Football Association, noting that the partnership between StarTimes and Ghana Football Association is looking forward to improving development of football in Ghana.

Nyantakyi said: “We authorize media rights of all major leagues or tournaments under Ghana Football Association to StarTimes. And StarTimes will deeply involve itself in the production and promotion of these leagues and bring much investment to our country.”

President of StarTimes Group, Pang Xinxing told reporters on the signing ceremony: “The partnership between StarTimes and Ghana Football Association is not only the cooperation between the two sides, but also a starting of cooperation between China and Africa on football industry.”

Pang noted that Ghana football has stayed at a high level in world football by playing at World Cup finals three times in succession and winning African Cup of Nations for four times.“We would like to bring more excellent football matches to nearly 9 million subscribers of StarTimes in Africa and we may introduce Ghana Premier League to Chinese football fans in the future, being a bridge between Chinese and African sports industries. ”

StarTimes is an experienced TV operator in football broadcasting. In 2015, StarTimes signed an exclusive broadcasting contract with the German Bundesliga and the International Champions Cup (ICC) for 5 successive years. StarTimes has exclusive rights and got the rights to televise the French Ligue 1 and the Italian Serie A for all Sub-Saharan countries

In June 2016, StarTimes also signed an exclusive broadcasting contract with the Chinese Super League for three successive years and acquired media rights to provide extensive coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa of the European Qualifiers for 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.

“StarTimes’ experience and advantage in broadcasting technology will bring Ghana’s football to a new age,” Nyantakyi noted.

StarTimes attaches great importance to African native sports content and have sponsored SC Villa and KCCA FC clubs in Uganda football league. In February 2015, StarTimes signed world football icon and Nigeria legend, Kanu Nwankwo as their Continental Brand Ambassador. As StarTimes Ambassador, Kanu is engaged in a series of football promotional events in Africa.

Pang said: “The Ghana Premier League is the first top African native league that StarTimes signs, and people can expect more in the future.”