Azam TV Terminates Rwanda Premier League Broadcast Deal

Tanzanian sports pay television channel Azam has terminated its broadcast contract with the country’s top division league over alleged breach of contract.

This means Azam Television will no longer show live matches of the Rwanda Premier League due to the breach of the license agreement entered into with Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA).

Regis Francio Uwayezu, the secretary-general of Ferwafa, confirmed that they have received a formal notice of cancellation of the contract and all the necessary procedures are being put in place to manage the television company’s exit from the league.

The development comes weeks before the scheduled kick-off of the Rwanda Premier League 2019/2020 season, which now leaves the broadcaster with only Tanzanian Premier League matches to show.

Four years ago, Azam TV signed a contract with Ferwafa worth $2.35m to sponsor the local football league which made become the official holder of the broadcasting rights for five years in a contract that was supposed to end in 2020.

The company claimed that the Rwandese FA breached the contract by allowing other private televisions to sneak cameras and take video footage when games are underway.

Azam, who used to hold television rights for Uganda Premier League lost it due to the dwindling subscription numbers and stiff competition from new entrant StarTimes.

Meanwhile, our sources indicate that Ferwafa are in talks with Azam in a bid to resolve to the stand-off.

“We have resolved that it is in our best interest and that of Rwandese football to have Azam back on air. As such, the federation has moved to engage Azam in order to remedy the situation,” a source at the federation disclosed.

Ducor Sports understands that the Tanzanian broadcasting company have declined Ferwafa’s call for negotiations following the termination of the contract.