30 August 2006


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Business Today



MFA dispute with TV stations hits sponsor

James Debono

Bank of Valletta Ltd, the MFA premier league’s sponsor is suffering from lack of exposure due to the tug of war between the Malta Football Association and Malta’s three main TV stations.
The three-year agreement between BOV and the MFA has now entered its second year but the black out of football matches organised by the MFA on NET TV, Super One and PBS is a cause of concern for BOV.
“Definitely the current situation has a negative impact on BOV due to a lack of exposure on TV stations,” a spokesperson for BOV told Business Today.
But the same spokesperson insisted that the situation is fluid and it is premature for the bank to comment further on the situation.
He also confirmed informal contacts between the bank and the MFA, in which this issue was raised.
The BOV spokesperson was contacted just before MFA President Joe Mifsud announced that a deal had been struck with Melita Cable.
The Cable TV provider has gained exclusive rights to show all the big premier league matches live this season.
Dr Mifsud said that the agreement with Melita will not hinder any future talks for free-to-air rights with the three local stations.
According to Mifsud the TV stations were not willing to pay the same amount of money as they used to pay in the previous contract which expired at the end of last season.

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