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For months, the private press group Emedia Invest has been opposing Senegalese public radio and television. RTS has in fact obtained exclusive rights for the unencrypted broadcast of 28 matches of the 2022 Football World Cup, under a contract with the Togolese operator New World TV, holder of the distribution rights for the competition in West Africa. An agreement contested by Emedia. The audiovisual regulator is threatening.
With our correspondent in Dakar, Charlotte Idrac
Black screen a few minutes before the kick-off of the match Senegal – Netherlands, Monday, November 21: the ITV signal was suddenly cut, before being restored at the end of the match. The private channel had decided to broadcast it. An “illegal” retransmission according to the National Audiovisual Regulatory Council. In a press release, the CNRA points out that “ on Senegalese territory, the exclusive rights – so-called “free to air” radio and TV go to the RTS ».
« With state support »
But these rights, Emedia claims to have acquired them first, from April 2022, for an amount “ of 740 million FCFA “-about 1 million 127,000 euros-, specifies Mamadou Ndiaye, director of communication for the press group. According to him, Emedia then launched negotiations with the banks, but was finally pushed aside. without explanation “for the benefit of the RTS, which has” outbid “, he says, “ with state support ».
Emedia filed an appeal with the competition commission of WAEMU, the West African Economic and Monetary Union, and “ the complaint was declared admissible “, argues Mamadou Ndiaye.
« Sanctions plus lourdes »
For the time being, the private group maintains its position, that of broadcasting the matches. For its part, the CNRA warns: “ In case of recurrence », ITV « will be subject to heavier penalties ».
►Also read: World Cup 2022: Senegal cracks against the Netherlands