Posted Friday, 15 January 2010 08:14

ZIMBABWE television has finally secured the rights to broadcast live matches from the African Nations Cup finals underway in Angola, earning rare praise from millions of football fans in the country.

The development meant that only those with access to satellite television would be able to watch the continental football show case.

However a timely intervention by the African Broadcasting Union (ABU) brought an end to the verbal brickbats fans were hurling at Pockets Hill over the let-down.

ZBH chief executive, Happison Muchechetere said the continental broadcasters union had managed to negotiate a reduction in the rights fees with AFNEX, the French company entrusted by the Confederation of African Football to handle the issue.

"We have secured the rights for the African Cup of Nations games in Angola but at a reduced fee after we convinced AFNEX that the 3.5 million Euros was too high. We had told ABU that we could not afford.

"Rather we could have used that money to look for equipment than spending it on a tournament just for 21 days," Muchechetere said.

"Now I guess a lot of people would not need to go to sports bars or spend an extra amount on subscriptions as we at ZBC are bringing the games at no extra costs,’’ Muchechetere said.

ZBH secured the rights on Wednesday minutes before the kick-off of the Group D clash between Cameroon and Gabon.

Source NewZimbabwe.com