MTN Uganda has boosted her footprint in local football league with a new partnership that makes the telecommunication firm the official broadcast partner of the Star Times Uganda Premier league (SUPL). The broadcast partnership is between MTN Uganda and Sanyuka TV, a brand under the Next Media Group.
Sanyuka TV acquired exclusive rights to broadcast the Startimes Uganda premier league giving the football local league fans across Uganda the capabilities to access all local matches
“We’ve partnered with Startimes to have exclusive rights to broadcast the Uganda Premier League (UPL). The only league that matters. We’re now the sole broadcaster of the UPL but that’s just a tip of the iceberg. The UPL is a bench mark for what we intend to do to re-energize Ugandan sports. We’re very happy that we’ve now been joined by MTN. And together, we believe we shall redefine football and sports broadcasting in the country,” Next Media Services CEO, Mr. Kin Kalisa, said during the press conference.
MTN Uganda Chief Marketing Officer Mr. Sen Somdev added that they partnered with Sanyuka TV because the company is interested in bringing back the nostalgic love that Ugandans used to have for the local football.
Mr. Wim Vanhellputte, also noted that, ” I believe that working together, we shall be able to bring back the love for the local league and eventually draw more Ugandans to the local stadia to watch local games.”
Mr. Kalisa said they are keen to take Ugandan sports, particularly football, closer to the Ugandans regardless of where they might be in the country.
For those that are not able to attend and watch the live Ugandan Premiership matches, they can stream the matches via the Startimes App which is available for download on Play store and App store. MTN has tailored bundles for viewers to watch Startimes entertainment, sports and news on their smartphones. This was possible following their partnership in June 2018.
MTN customers will be in position to live stream/watch programs on their smartphones anywhere via the StarTimes App using the newly MTN TV bundles for UGX2,000 for two hours, or UGX4,000 for four hours. The timely bundles only work at the time of activation/usage. For instance if one bought the two hour package, and streams for say 20 minutes. The timer stops and resumes if the user starts streaming, until the two hours are done.
Meanwhile, the MTN, and Sanyuka official launch activation was at the Startimes stadium in Lugogo, Kampala on Feb. 22nd, 2020 — later having a friendly game between MTN, Next media, former football legends, musicians and other entertainers.
MTN Uganda played against Next Media, with a score ending in a nil draw.
Notably, MTN is currently the lead sponsor of the local outfit, Onduparaka FC. MTN also sponsored the national team and has run a number of grassroots football development programs. In addition, holds its annual MTN Marathon event with proceedings collected to help and building communites. Last year, the event proceedings went towards improving maternal health services across the country.
