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| Nigeria in record TV deal |
3/19/2007 |
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The Nigeria Football League (NFL) is expected to receive US$6 million in television revenue over the next three years.
This follows the signing of a three-year deal with Africa Independent Television (AIT) on Thursday.
According to NFL chairman Oyuki Obaseki, AIT will pay the sum of $1.74 million, $1.96 million and $2.27million for the 2005, 2006 and 2007 seasons.
The contract is the most lucrative television deal signed in the history of Nigerian sport.
"This deal shows we are focused on projecting our football to the world," Obaseki told BBC Sport.
"Our choice of AIT is due to their reach across Africa, Europe and North America, as well as the station''s ability to meet our financial requirements.
"We have received the first instalment cheque of US$984,000, while the remaining (about $750,000) for this season will be paid before the commencement of the league''s second round.
Obaseki believes the new television deal will help several cash-strapped clubs in the country.
"There''s light at the end of the dark tunnel for financially handicapped clubs.
"This deal will not only help relieve some of their burden but take them to another level," Obaseki said.
Anthony Anyagafu, AIT''s general manager, told BBC Sport the station hopes to provide high-quality coverage of league football in the country.
Meanwhile, the NFL is set to ban stadia that do not meet their standards.
"We cannot continue to play football on poor surfaces, hence our decision to close down some stadiums which failed to meet our set standards.
"Some clubs promised to make a drastic change and improvements but the opposite has been the case.
"Humans are playing football on these grounds and not animals.
"We will rather host games at six good venues instead of fifteen bad ones," Obaseki said.
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