ZPL, TopStar Sign $5M Broadcast Partnership
The Zambian Premier League (ZPL) has signed a landmark broadcasting deal with TopStar Communications valued at US$5 million over five years, a development set to boost the visibility and commercialisation of local football.
The agreement, worth US$1 million per season (about K23 million annually), is non-exclusive and will allow TopStar to screen MTN Super League matches on its mobile app, as well as across Sun Sport, ZNBC TV3, Sports Focus and StarTimes. Other broadcasters will still have the opportunity to acquire rights to air the matches.
The deal also covers sponsorship of the ZPL Annual Awards, valued at K960,000, alongside revenue-sharing arrangements on advertising, with the league retaining 80 per cent of proceeds from new business secured by TopStar.
Speaking at the signing, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts, Mr Kangwa Chileshe, hailed the partnership as a positive step for Zambian football, providing wider exposure and creating fresh opportunities for clubs and players.
His counterpart at the Ministry of Information and Media, Mr Thabo Kawana, highlighted the importance of broadcast quality, urging the partners to prioritise top-class production for fans.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) President, Mr Keith Mweemba, described the agreement as a milestone in efforts to professionalise the Zambian Premier League and elevate it to one of Africa’s most competitive leagues.
ZPL Chief Executive Officer, Mr Joseph Chimpampwe, said the deal marked “a new era for football broadcasting in Zambia”, noting it would enhance commercial opportunities, expand fan access and raise the profile of home-grown talent.
