The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has given the Zambian Premier League (ZPL) a 72-hour ultimatum to resolve its broadcasting impasse with Topstar Communications Limited, the official broadcaster of the MTN Super League.
The ZPL signed a five-year broadcasting agreement worth US$5 million with TopStar in August last year — valued at US$1 million per season. However, the broadcaster has not aired any league matches since Week 12, raising concerns among stakeholders about the execution of the contract.
FAZ president Keith Mweemba expressed deep disappointment over the situation, describing the matter as one that is “so dear to my heart.” He stressed the importance of ensuring that Zambian football stakeholders fully benefit from commercial partnerships tied to the domestic game.
“We need to create a win-win situation with our cooperating partners,” Mweemba said, urging the ZPL to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves.
The FAZ chief warned that contractual obligations must be respected and indicated that the association is prepared to invoke legal provisions if the matter is not resolved within the stipulated timeframe. He also referenced recent changes in the law that provide greater flexibility in broadcasting arrangements.
“We should be able to engage other broadcasters and cooperating partners,” he added, mentioning Supersport and Azam as potential alternatives.
TopStar took over as the league’s broadcast partner following the non-renewal of the long-standing deal with SuperSport. FAZ and SuperSport had enjoyed an 18-year partnership dating back to 2007, with live broadcasts of the top-flight league commencing in the 2008 season.
In addition to the broadcasting rights, TopStar committed an extra K960,000 toward sponsorship of the ZPL Annual Awards.
The current agreement covers the MTN Super League, with matches scheduled to air on the TopStar Mobile App, Sun Sport, ZNBC TV3, Sports Focus, and StarTimes platforms.
