3 TV stations bid for Super League rights:  Zodiak and MBC sent back

Zodiak and MBCTV missed out in the bidding process of 2016 up to 2019 Super League of Malawi (SULOM) television broadcasting rights after their documents failed to meet deadline on Thursday at Sulom’s offices in Blantyre.

Instead, Times Group, Beta Television and Matindi Television were the only three media houses that submitted their bidding documents to Sulom.

First to arrive was a representative from Times Group before Matindi and Beta before the deadline time which was 3, o’clock in the afternoon.

Zodiak representatives arrived five minutes after the actual time before MBC which was late by 24 minutes. The two media houses were told to go back with their documents since they failed to arrive at the agreed time.

MTV bid is at a price of K37.5 million, Beta TV bid price is at K266 million, while Times TV bid price is at K149.3 million.

Sulom treasure Tiya Somba Banda said it is good to note that the three media houses are serious with commercialization of Malawi football.

“We have note that some have even put bid up to K266 million which is something that has never happened in the history of Malawi football. I believe we are going in the right direction,” said Banda.

He also said at first there were five companies who bought the bid document but unfortunately only three submitted their documents after making it on 15 hours which they agreed.

“The other two Zodiak and MBCTV came in late and the rules say by 15 hours that is only when we can receive the bid documents.  So for Zodiak and MBC they arrived late and we had no option,” he said.

However, it was surprising that despite Zodiak being housed in the same offices where Sulom operate   at Delamare House they could not make it on time.