We have learnt of a media house war between Sport TV and the Vision group that could leave Urban television closed.
News coming through indicate that Urban Television came into existence after Vision group reached an agreement with the then Sports TV to share broadcasting time and give vision group an extra channel for wider coverage. However, according to Sports TV, Vision group breached the agreement and the former is taking legal action to nullify the contract.
If Sports TV succeeds this will mean Urban Television will be no more as Sports TV will take back all its broadcasting time.
In a statement Sports Television wrote:
“We haven’t been in touch for a long time and this is why: a few years ago, Vision Group asked us to help them set up an English Channel to widen their media offering to Ugandan audiences. We entered an agreement to share broadcast time and Vision Group took over our equipment and started broadcasting as Urban TV. We had our issues from the start – in the name of testing the signal they had completely taken sports off-air, not respecting what we agreed to do. Anyway – they bought from UBC the frequency Urban TV is using now, and they started broadcast of Bukedde 2 on Sports TV’s channel. Soon after they took our station off-air. We asked for our equipment to be returned by Vision Group ignored our request and KEPT our equipment – complete Sports TV studio console, editing and playout equipment, studio-transmitter link, 3KWa digital-ready broadcast transmitter and 16-pannel omnidirectional antennae system. Ugandans are deprived of watching free sports 24-7. Moreover, did you know that Sports TV has the rights to broadcast Fox Sports 24-7? This is what is unfairly and unjustly taken away from Ugandans. We hope the justice will prevail soonest so we can resume normal broadcast and bring you the best Fox Sports has to offer, including local programs with sports news, society, entertainment etc.”
Vision group headed by Robert Kabushenga has not responded to the claims yet.