South Africa-based Pan-Africa group of television channels carried on the DStv satellite platform, SuperSport, has come under serious scrutiny after owner of Streetwise Management and Manager of Ghanaian duo, Duke Micah as well as current IBF world champion Richard Commey, Michael Amoo Bediako Snr, questioned have their business operations.
“You acquire the rights to show this fight but you don’t inquire to show the fights of your only world champion @RichardCommey! How do you expect to help the sport grow in the country when you don’t even support its stars.” Amoo-Bediako questioned.
This was immediately after SuperSport holding company, which is MultiChoice, made this announcement on their wall.
” 🗣 BOXING ANNOUNCEMENT 🥊
SuperSport has acquired the rights to broadcast Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz on December 7. It will be available from DStv Compact Plus through to DStv Premium.
The fight comes 5 months after the Mexican shocked the world by defeating Joshua.
#SSBoxing” Super Sports announced.
MultiChoice Ghana, operators of SuperSports, are exclusively popular in Ghana and beyond, with their current subscription numbers in sub Saharan Africa estimated around 11.9 million.
Checking their core aims, one of MultiChoice’s key priorities is to put subscribers’ needs at the heart of everything, bearing in mind the tough economic times, which begs the question why they are not going for the rights to telecast Richard Commey’s bout? After all, Commey is the current holder of the world title possibly going to unify the titles with the current pound for pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko next year should he go past mandatory challenger Teofimo Lopez on Decembe 14.
From our checks: MultiChoice Ghana is a joint venture with a local businessman Richard Darko which was established in 1993 and today operates from five offices including a state-of-the-art head office and studio in Accra, which employs over 130 people directly, and currently enjoys over 1 million subscription in Ghana alone.
Perhaps they are yet to monetize the brand Commey, but then, what about Isaac Dogboe in his world title prime, when he was commanding the numbers with many touting him as Africa’s next pay per view star.
Alex Ntiamoah Boakye, CEO of Box Office Sports Promotions, was able to get Joshua Clottey’s fight on SuperSports, but was it paid for? The Ghana Premier league equally received some sponsorship from SuperSports during Kwesi Nyantakyi’s era.
Is it the brand or the product? Boxing Ghana will inquire from MultiChoice, operators of SuperSports, why this development, and what can be done to stimulate a win win situation.