Sunday, August 19, 2018

Ghana's Fly TV in contempt of court over continuing to broadcast Premier League football matches although the rights belong to MultiChoice and SuperSport.

Ghana's Fly TV, operated by Nour Vision Ltd, is in contempt of court after continuing to broadcast English Premier League (EPL) football matches in the West African country despite the licensing rights belonging to MultiChoice Africa and SuperSport.

In June MultiChoice Ghana secured an injunction in Ghana's high court against Nour Vision, barring them from airing the 2018 World Cup in Ghana over Fly TV's unauthorised broadcast on the pay-TV service of World Cup matches, other sports content as well as other TV licensing rights violations.

Fly TV stopped, and then MultiChoice Ghana again went to the high court to get an injunction against Nour Vision Ltd to also prevent Fly TV from specifically broadcasting EPL matches.

When the EPL started in early August, Nour Vision Ltd literally disregarded the injunction and started broadcasting EPL football matches in Ghana despite not having the rights to do so, and despite several prior warnings from MultiChoice Africa to other broadcasters to stop the pirate broadcast of specifically sport content.

Rabih Fahs and El Akhrass Akoghe, Nour Vision Ltd directors, have now been cited for being in contempt of court, with an application seeking their imprisonment that will be heard on 28 August.

Cecil Sunkwa Mills, MultiChoice Ghana general manager said the pay-TV operator will continue to work with local authorities to enforce the protection of acquired and licensed content from operators who steal it for illegal rebroadcast.