Chinese Pay TV giant “StarTimes” is inching closer to securing broadcast rights of the Ethiopian Premier League (EPL).
According to a close source, having the EPL on pay TV and other platforms is part of the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) “digitization” process of the topflight and they are excited that StarTimes is willing to come on board.
Under the programme meant to develop the league into one of the best in Africa, EFF has already adopted FIFA Domestic Transfer Matching System and is rolling out e-ticketing at various stadiums across the country starting with Addis Ababa Stadium. In the long term, a separate body will be formed to run the league in line with South Africa and Kenya models.
Negotiations with StarTimes are believed to be at an advanced stage and once clubs agree on formula for revenue sharing and a separate deal with the federation is finalized then ink will be put to paper. EPL is one of the most supported leagues in Africa.
Fans travel far in their thousands across the vast country every match day to support their clubs, but the league, which attracts talents from across Africa, has never had a solid TV backing. With a rapidly growing football infrastructure in Ethiopia, the deal with StarTimes is projected to further elevate the EPL and help market it across the continent.
StarTimes has presence in 30 African countries and is the biggest TV provider in the Sub Saharan Africa. They already have Ghanaian Premier League under their belt. But attempts to secure Kenyan Premier League rights early this year fell through as they failed to agree on certain terms.
Ethiopia will host the 2020 Championship of African Nations (CHAN) and will bid to stage the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Tsegaye K/Mariam’s prophecy of taking over a new side in a very short time came true when newly promoted Premier League club Welwalo-Adigrat appointed him in place of Berhane G/Egziabher who was booted out of the club just five months in to the league season. Berhane filed a complaint to the Ethiopian Football Federation against Welwalo claiming compensation because he has a contract until the end of the season.
With a five hundred thousand birr signing bonus to go along with a 50,000 Birr monthly salary Tsegaye is back as a head coach for Welwalo-Adigrat. The team is currently 10th in the table with 16 points from 15 matches. With three wins, seven draws and five defeats, Welwalo’s record shows only one win in the past ten consecutive matches thus Tsegaye who was booted out of relegation struggling side Arbaminch just two months in to the season faces a slippery high hill to turn the boat back in to course.
The former Agricultural Marketing mid fielder turned coach Tsegaye had had a good name with Trans Ethiopia and Harar Beer. But since his time back in the capital Addis Ababa the record shows a down slide. After resigning from Ethiopia Banks after just few months then he was booted out of Ethiopia Neged Bank and just months with Arbaminch before another axe, Tsegaye is in a cross road of his professional career and is much anticipated to deliver something at
Welwalo-Adigrat.
According to critics since Tsegaye’s sacking is short of his exit details it is believed that he pocketed an official one million birr signing bonus in less than six months from two sides: Arbaminch and Welwalo both financed by tax payer’s money. “Is that money well spent?,” critics question.