The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) got a big boost on Tuesday through a live streaming partnership projected to earn the league more than $5 million yearly.
The partnership is between NPFL’s Interim Management Committee (IMC); its finance partners, GTI; and Propel Sports Africa (PSA), which will stream NPFL games live from next season.
At the unveiling of the partnership in Lagos, PSA Chairman, Basil Kabbani said that the arrangement is for his outfit and GTI to ensure live streaming of the games on a dedicated Over-the-Top (OTT) platform on a platform that would soon be communicated to sports lovers.
He said that the NPFL live has been enabled by the world’s most advanced AI technology, which the NPFL would be the first league in Africa to deploy.
Kabbani further said: “Pixellot, the world-leading provider of AI-automated sports video and data solutions, and ITV Africa are proud to announce a partnership with NPFL, GTI and Propel Sports Africa, revolutionising sports coverage in the country by enabling comprehensive coverage of the league’s matches in a groundbreaking hybrid broadcast format combining AI with human operators.
“In addition to the expanded game coverage, GTI and Propel Sports Africa will also provide the NPFL with an Over-The-Top (OTT) platform ‘NPFL live’.
“This dedicated streaming app will allow fans to enjoy live matches and exclusive content anytime, anywhere. The OTT solution will be customised to reflect NPFL’s branding and provide a seamless user experience for football enthusiasts in Nigeria and throughout the world”.
Excited by the expected live streaming of NPFL games, IMC Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye said the development has justified its partnership with GTI, adding that live streaming of matches would bring a new vista to Nigerian football.
He said: “We were convinced that GTI would help birth a new era in the Nigerian league hence we chose to partner with them among many other organisations that wanted to work with us.
“When we talked with GTI, they discussed money as well as ways to grow the system. They agreed to offset the debts owed referees. They now pay referees a day before every game.
“GTI paid the clubs N10 million each, which is N200 million in total, before the commencement of the league. With this new deal, we will make money, the clubs will make money and the players will also make money.
“We are looking at a situation where the least paid player will earn N1 million. This way, we will attract foreign players to the league and with Propel Sports, over 100 countries will be able to watch the Nigerian league”.
