By Mark Baber
April 22 – The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) aims to raise at least $17.3m by auctioning off the premier league’s television broadcast rights for the next three years.
Egyptian Premier League clubs are facing a financial crisis due to a ban on spectators. The EFA’s headquarters were recently burnt down and political unrest continues in the country. Fans can only watch matches on television, the lifting of the spectator ban is not expected in the short terms.
Against this background, the Satellite Broadcasting Commission headed by Zamalek chairman Mamduh Abbas, has reportedly set EGP 120 million ($17.3m) as the minimum bid for the auction which is open to Egyptian and foreign broadcasters and marketing companies. In comparison, Al Jazeera paid $2.6m, for the rights in late 2011. However, Al Ahli is believed to have a fan-base of 50 million and the Qatari broadcaster is keen to build its sports franchise.
Sherif Habib, president of the Arab Contractors Club and spokesman for the Broadcasting Commission, said that the matches of the Egyptian Premier League would be sold in package with the winners having the right to use the Egyptian Television and Radio Broadcasting Union logo and to broadcast on at least two Egyptian television networks.
A similar public auction will be held for rights to the Egypt Cup, for which Mahmoud al-Shami will be preparing the bid document and for which a minimum of EGP 10 million is expected to be raised.
Al Ahli, Haras El-Hodoud, Ittihad El-Shorta, Bani Swaif Telephones, Arab Contractors and El-Dakhleya have all withdrawn from the Egypt Cup, but continue to play in the league.
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