The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has announced its decision to live stream eight league games every matchday through a designated NPFL Live app.
According to Nelson Ine from GTI asset management, no team in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) would be allowed to stream their matches (home and away) from now on.
He added that only broadcast partners of the league would have the privilege to do so.
The recent development that has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerian football lovers.
While some fans have welcomed the move, others expressed disappointment over the decision to bar home teams from independently streaming their matches.
This controversial decision has ignited debates about the impact on fans, team revenues, and overall fan engagement.
The decision to exclusively broadcast matches through the NPFL Live app has drawn support from some fans who see it as a step towards enhancing the league’s visibility.
A loyal NPFL fans, Jimoh Olanrewaju, commended the initiative, emphasizing the need for an official TV broadcaster for the league, with broadcasting revenues being equitably distributed among all clubs.
He also called for home teams to have the right to broadcast their matches independently, urging the league body to address this concern.
“It is a good development, there must be official Tv broadcaster for the league and the money for the Tv right must be shared among all the clubs Besides, all home teams should have the right to broadcast their matches, the league body should look into that,” Jimoh said.
However, not all fans share the same enthusiasm for the NPFL’s latest move. Jamiu Salaudeen expressed disappointment, recalling the unfulfilled promise of live streaming matches through the NPFL app in the past.
He emphasized the importance of allowing clubs to stream their games independently, enabling their dedicated fans to watch matches even when unable to attend in person.
A similar sentiment was echoed by Duke Asuquo, who implored the league to permit home teams to stream their matches while the official broadcast partners handle their coverage.
This approach, he argued, would cater to the preferences of different fan bases, providing broader accessibility to NPFL matches.
“Abeg home teams should be allowed to stream their matches o while the broadcast partners do theirs,” Duke Asuquo said
Mubarak Ishola raised concerns about data usage, preferring traditional TV broadcasting over app-based streaming.
While Adekunle Ashaka pointed out the NPFL Live app’s past technical issues, highlighting how some teams, like Sporting Lagos, had resorted to independent streaming on platforms like YouTube to ensure fans could watch matches consistently.
Äyanfe Lomo questioned the decision to restrict home teams from streaming their games, seeking clarity on the underlying reasons behind this move.
SoloPac – The Soundman proposed a compromise, suggesting that both NPFL Live app streaming and independent team broadcasts should run concurrently to cater to different fan groups and enhance global reach.
“Why can’t both run concurrently? One focuses on their core fans, and the other serves both core fans and other interested fans….. if you can even get more TV rights its even better from all around the world,” he said.
As the NPFL’s decision continues to generate discussions among fans, it remains to be seen how the league will address these concerns.
Striking a balance between exclusive app streaming and accommodating home teams’ independent broadcasts could be crucial in ensuring broader fan engagement.
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