Ghana World Cup broadcast right holders accuse TV3 of ambush marketing

The Ghana television consortium has accused TV3 of illegally marketing broadcast rights for the 2014 World Cup.

The consortium which is an amalgamation of five local television stations have jointly acquired the rights – including radio- in an agreement with FIFA and AUB to broadcast the three FIFA tournaments in 2014.

The body is therefore the solely mandated outfit able to sublet the rights to other media organisations interested in broadcasting the tournaments which include the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup to be hosted by Canada.

The consortium however claim TV3 have began seeking sponsorship from corporate firms under the pretext of broadcasting the 2014 World Cup when they even don’t have the rights.

“We have prove of several correspondence between TV3 and some firms in Ghana looking to do business with the World Cup when they don’t belong to the consortium,” Fadi Fattal, the Chief Executive Officer of Optimum Media Prime which is the exclusive marketing firm for the consortium said in a press conference on Thursday.

“We have written to TV3 to tell them what they are doing is unprofessional and illegal and that there would be severe punishment if they don’t stop.

“We have also written to FIFA and AUB to report the unprofessional act of TV3.”

The consortium insists they are the only approved body able to duly license broadcast firms interested in showing the World Cup and invited especially the radio stations to approach them for the requisite accreditation.

“It is not difficult at all to get the rights from us,” the consortium’s co-ordinator George Lomotey said.

“For the TV stations I am afraid it is too late to get the license if you are not already part of the consortium but then there is still the opportunity for radio stations.

“We have categorized them to meet and satisfy the needs of all radio stations.” The current licensed television stations able to broadcast the 2014 World Cup in Ghana include GTV, Metro TV, e TV, Net 2 and First Digital.