In order to achieve its primary objective of delivering quality broadcast to Nigerians during the FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Optima Sports Management International (OSMI) has kicked off its stakeholder engagement programme with a workshop for its Broadcast Partners from the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON)
OSMI, the exclusive 2014 FIFA World Cup terrestrial broadcast rights owners for the Nigerian territory, will be transmitting the tournament’s 64 matches live on local radio and television stations across the country. The broadcast is as a result of an agreement between OSMI and BON; which is the umbrella body of all Radio and Television stations in Nigeria to ensure every Nigerian regardless of class, cadre or location has access to the mundial.
While declaring open the workshop that attracted participants from across the country, the Executive Chairman, OSMI, Mr. Rotimi Pedro, said the event was designed to deepen his organisation’s interface with BON, whom he described as a “partner in progress”. He said the need to explain the details of the broadcast rights, including the rights and obligations of all the parties (rights owners and broadcast-partners) was the reason behind the conference.
Pedro, who was represented by the company’s Executive Director, Mrs. Ugochi Pedro, said: ‘We treasure the relationship and understanding we have developed with BON over the years. Our mandate at OSMI is very clear, which is hinged around delivering quality sports programming to the generality of Nigerians. We don’t believe that premium sports programmes should be the exclusive preserve of the elite. This is why we have acquired the broadcast rights for this year’s World Cup as we have been doing since 2006. BON has been our partner in progress because the objective of the two organisations tally – delivering the best programming to the masses,” he stated.
In his address, the Executive Secretary, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Mr. Segun Olaleye, expressed the readiness of his organization to partner with OSMI towards having a hitch-free World Cup broadcast. He admonished BON members to abide strictly by the regulations under which FIFA granted OSMI the rights.
The workshop focused on diverse segments like broadcast compliance and monitoring, production, logistics, training, presentation, among others. Participants (Presenters/Programming Staff and Engineers) were drawn from Radio and Television stations across the country.
OSMI has been in partnership with FIFA since 2006 bringing the World Cup matches of 2006 and 2010 to Nigerians on terrestrial television.
