Africa

Moroccan public-service broadcaster SNRT has acquired rights to the 2018 Fifa World Cup, according to multiple reports, with Morocco set to make its first appearance at the national team football tournament in 20 years.

Pay-television broadcasters Canal Plus Afrique and Kwesé Sports have been awarded media rights to Ligue 1, the top division of French club football, in sub-Saharan Africa, TV Sports Markets understands.

Renewing Uefa Champions League rights has cemented SuperSport’s place as the leading pay-television sports broadcaster in sub-Saharan Africa for at least the next four years.

SuperSport, the pay-television broadcaster that operates in sub-Saharan Africa, has renewed a rights deal for the Uefa Champions League club football competition by a further three years.

The Premier Soccer League, organising body of the top two divisions of South African football, has agreed a five-season extension to its rights deal with SuperSport, the pay-television broadcaster that operates in sub-Saharan Africa.

South African multi-platform media outlet Soccer Laduma has entered into a digital partnership with the Bundesliga, the top tier of club football in Germany.

Rights to three of sub-Saharan Africa’s most popular domestic leagues are on the market, though their fortunes are likely to differ wildly.

International media and entertainment company Discovery Communications has transformed the structure of its regional businesses across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and promoted Kasia Kieli to lead operations.

The Competition Commission of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) has identified a “number of concerns” amid an ongoing probe into the commercial partnership between the Confederation of African Football and the Lagardère Sports agency.

Pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports has acquired rights in Italy to the 2017 Fifa Club World Cup, while pay-television operator StarTimes, which broadcasts in sub-Saharan Africa, has extended its deal for the annual football tournament.

The Premier Soccer League, organising body of the top two divisions of South African football, has extended the tender process for its next set of media rights, with a number of parties in contention for the packages on offer.

BeIN Media Group will launch tenders for French Ligue 1 media rights in Brazil and Latin America next week, TV Sports Markets understands.

Cricket South Africa has filled the gap created by the postponement of this year’s T20 Global League with the T20 Challenge, a decision that will go some way to repairing its relationship with SuperSport

UK racecourse owner and operator Arena Racing Company (ARC) has secured new rights deals with omni-channel content solutions provider Vermantia and Australian wagering company Tabcorp and has also extended a partnership with the Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service (BAGS).

African pay-television broadcaster Kwesé TV has launched its sports service in Nigeria.

Sports and betting-related services company Sportradar has agreed deals to deliver coverage of the European Volleyball Confederation’s (CEV) Champions League in more than 60 territories across Asia and Africa.