By David Gold
January 23 – Ghana’s Government has bought the broadcasting rights to the African Nations Cup, as the competition began in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon this weekend.
State media reported that €2 million (£1.7 million/$2.6 million) was paid to Sportfive to show both this month’s tournament, as well as the 2013 edition being staged in South Africa, with the rights to be held by state broadcaster Ghana Television (GTV).
As one of the favourites for the tournament, it is a significant boost for the African Nations Cup to have confirmed that the games that Ghana is playing will be broadcast in the country.
Other broadcasters are being encouraged to bid to take on some of the rights to show matches.
The 2010 World Cup quarter finalists are expected to have 25 million of their fans cheering them on, and in total the tournament should garner a global audience of some four billion.
The Black Stars began the tournament in a group involving Botswana, Mali and Guinea.
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