2016/17 GPL Post-Season Review: TV coverage in the spotlight

The coverage of the 2016/17 Ghana Premier League (GPL) has overwhelming not lived up to the anticipated standard especially with Africa’s leading pay-TV operator, StarTimes Group, coming on board to uplift the coverage of the competition.

In reviewing the coverage of the 2016/17 GPL it is very important to mention the strategic partnership agreement between StarTimes and Ghana Football Association which saw a mammoth deal of $17,950 signed between the two parties prior to the start of the season.

StarTimes have faced heavy criticism in the media landscape for the poor coverage of the league especially with Fox Sports setting the pace in the coverage of the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations.

Juxtaposing the standard of coverage during the era of Supersport to that of StarTimes there is clearly a vast difference but it should significant to highlight that the broadcast for this season was done by GTV in conjunction with StarTimes.

Quality of Coverage

Various controversial instances in this year’s league certainly marred the quality of coverage with fans expressing the displeasure with the quality of broadcast.

The quality of this year’s tv coverage has been substandard but hopefully StatTimes can learn from the challenges in their first year of coverage and improve in subsequent years.

The highly anticipated arrival of the modern StarTimes OB Vans must arrive in time with the 2017/2018 Ghana Premier League set to start in December so as to showcase the high standard of coverage associated with StarTimes.

Challenges

There have numerous instances in the GPL were the television crew have been denied access to legitimately broadcast a match but are unable to execute the task.

These abysmal behavoiur by clubs is certainly a disturbing phenomenon and stringent sanctions have to be emplaced by the Disciplinary Committee to deter clubs who intend preventing broadcast for various reasons.

The unacceptable predicament of clubs preventing live telecast of their matches has to a large extent tarnish the image of league with numerous broadcasters officers abused.

Way Forward

The standard of the TV coverage has certainly has to improve if GPL in order to arouse interest among the local football fans and across the continent.

The expansion of coverage across all eight league centers has to illuminate the league into the limelight to boost the visibility of the league as well attracting sponsors who might be interested in partnering the league.