STARS’ CHANTV HITCH: FKF media partner StarTimes wants deal re-done, but eager to see through venture despite bungled Kenya-Ethiopia broadcast

Startimes' Garry Rathbone signs the sponsorship deal with FKF President Sam Nyamweya (right) as Vice-President Robert Asembo (left) looks during the sponsorship deal at Nyayo Stadium on July 2, 2015.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

StarTimes have said that the integrity of their sponsorship for the national team Harambee Stars has been compromised and want to renegotiate the same.

This is after the broadcaster failed to air Saturday’s Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) match between Kenya and Ethiopia at Nyayo Stadium.

FKF vice-president Robert Asembo confirmed StarTimes have requested that the deal be renegotiated, a move he said was welcome.

Earlier, the company had announced a Sh450 million five-year sponsorship for Harambee Stars that was to start with Saturday’s fixture. But after it became clear that the rights belonged to SuperSport.

In a statement released after the debacle, StarTimes Vice President Mark Lisboa was, however, quick to clarify that the sponsorship will continue.

He said: “The marketing and broadcast rights agreement signed with FKF on the sponsorship for the Kenya National Soccer Team extended the right to produce and exclusive broadcast of:

“Home and away friendly matches played by all Kenya National football teams including but not limited to first male Kenya National Team, U20’s, Women during the 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 period as well as CHAN matches.

“Fortunately, it has come to our attention that the rights for CHAN matches are held by CAF as opposed to FKF.

“Because of this new development, the integrity of the said partnership is now compromised, given new broadcast rights restrictions imposed on StarTimes that run counter to a duly signed media rights contract signed with FKF.

“Given the new broadcast and sponsorship limitations imposed on StarTimes, the nature and extent of the sponsorship deal will be re-shaped and will be communicated after due consultations.”

Lisboa said that as a company, they pay high attention to copyright integrity of rights owners and therefore had to suspend broadcast plans for Saturday’s match.

“We acted in good faith in negotiating and contracting with FKF for sub-Saharan Pay TV and FTA broadcast rights as well as sponsorship rights for Kenya National Soccer team and look forward to amicably resolving the same with FKF in the interest of Kenya Soccer,” he said.

In their defence, FKF vice president Asembo said they acted in good faith while negotiating the deal with StarTimes and will seek to give “full meaning and extent to the contract.”
“In all our dealings with sponsors we always do things with utmost good faith and that was the same with StarTimes,” he said.

Asked why they presented the fact that they had the rights to the CHAN game yet this was not the case, Asembo said: “It was not clear who had the rights until CAF finally made it clear to us on Saturday.”

The continental body threatened to ban Kenya had StarTimes been allowed to broadcast the fixture.