Tunisian channel “Nessma TV†used sinuous ways to acquire major sport competition’s TV rights
The Tunisian satellite channel “Nessma TV†has sealed a deal with influential Egyptian parties to acquire the exclusive rights to broadcast the African Handball Championship matches due to take place in Egypt as from February 10.
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The event has recently hit Echourok newspaper’s headlines sparking large media uproar between opponents, supporters and sceptical but the signing of the contract came to cut short to all speculations.
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The channel’s owner, NAbil Karraoui who used to wage a war against the Gulf TV magnates including Al Jazeera channel for using their financial power to get the monopoly on the major sports events and deprive the Maghreban audiences from their right to see their national teams, has yesterday used an insolent tone and declared on “Ness Nessma” set that he was the rights holder of this competition.
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Nabil Karraoui pushed his bold insolence to the limits when he got in touch live with the Vice-President of the Egyptian Handball Federation to confirm to the audience that his channel had acquired the rights for terrestrial and satellite broadcast. He even used a patronizing discourse giving lectures on broadcasting legislation.
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Nesma ‘s achievement cannot be considered as a stroke of luck, but the outcome of highly confidential negotiations started with the Egyptian side three months ago. Karraoui brothers have used menial means to reach their goal as they played on a sensitive string to convince the Algerian audience that their channel will fulfil the Great Maghreb dream.
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Karraoui brothers’ masquerade was but a lure to divert the audience on their real intents and bargain with the Egyptian side in a move struck deals. Indeed, they succeed to wrench finances from “Jezzy” to acquire programs before receiving a special gift from the Egyptian giant “ Orascom Telecom” CEO , Nadjib Sawriss who ordered the company’s branch in Algeria “Jezzy” to sign a commercial with Karraoui brothers at a value of 1 million Euros.
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A number of Algerian stars including Djamel Allam, Cheb billal, Byouna and Fella Abbabsa took part to the commercial and got less than 50 thousand Euros in a commercial whose budget wouldn’t exceed 150 thousand Euros according to the standards.
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This was the strategy followed by the Karraoui brothers to garner tremendous wealth in a record period of time, they have used the same process when they were established in Algeria through their agency “ Karraoui and Karraoui”.
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