Africa
Al-Khelaifi to meet Swiss prosecutors, beIN faces Egyptian probe
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, chief executive of Qatar-owned beIN Media Group, has said he will travel to Switzerland on October 25 to answer questions from Swiss prosecutors amid ongoing investigations into the sale of Fifa World Cup rights, while it has emerged that beIN will be quizzed over alleged monopolistic practices in the Egyptian market.
Kwesé launches free-to-access service
African pay-television broadcaster Kwesé TV has launched a new free-to-air offering that will include its Free Sports Channel.
Kwesé TV returns in Zimbabwe
African pay-television broadcaster Kwesé TV has returned to Zimbabwean screens following the latest court ruling over the legality of the service.
Fox expands football rights portfolio with two new leagues
Fox Sports Africa has bolstered its European football content by acquiring rights to the English Football League and the Turkish Süper Lig across sub-Saharan Africa
Pro14 finalises lucrative African deal as UK deadline is extended
The Pro14 cross-border rugby union league secured the medium-term future of its new format with the agreement of a lucrative deal across sub-Saharan Africa earlier this month.
Goal, Fox Sports sign media partnership for WAFU Cup
Goal, the football news website operated by digital sports media company Perform, has agreed a media partnership with international pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports for the revived WAFU Nations Cup.
Kwesé TV launches in South Africa, suspended in Zimbabwe
African pay-television broadcaster Kwesé TV has launched in South Africa, as it faces further problems in Zimbabwe.
World Boxing Super Series seals raft of rights deals
The MP & Silva agency has agreed rights deals in a host of territories for the inaugural season of the World Boxing Super Series.
SuperSport signs on for Pro14’s new era
SuperSport, the pay-television broadcaster that operates in sub-Saharan Africa, has acquired rights to the Pro14 ahead of the debuts of South African teams the Cheetahs and Southern Kings in the club rugby union competition this weekend.
Kwesé Sports clinches IAAF rights deal
African sports broadcaster Kwesé Sports has acquired rights to International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) competitions throughout sub-Saharan Africa under an agreement with sports broadcaster ESPN.
Zimbabwe government moves to ban Kwesé TV
The Zimbabwe government and the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) have banned African pay-television broadcaster Kwesé TV from operating in the country.
Pro14 banking on expansion leading to greater TV revenue
The expansion of the cross-border Pro12 rugby union competition, following the addition of two South African teams this week, has been driven by three factors: the desire to improve the competitiveness of the league, the aim of bringing its media-rights revenues closer into line with its rivals, and the availability of the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings.
SuperSport buys WWE rights to widen its subscription base
World Wrestling Entertainment has continued its transition into a pay-television property outside the US, moving away from free-to-air to sign a four-year deal with SuperSport in sub-Saharan Africa
StarTimes sets Fiba on course for big increase with Angola to come
The International basketball federation (Fiba) has earned a huge increase in the value of its rights in sub-Saharan Africa, buoyed by this year’s AfroBasket being held in Angola
ESPN joins EBU for IAAF rights distribution deal
The International Association of Athletics Federations has signed a multi-year agreement with the European Broadcasting Union consortium of public-service broadcasters, and ESPN Media Distribution, the rights agency division of the global sports broadcaster, for the sale and distribution of rights in Africa and Europe.
Canal Plus takes Süper Lig to Africa
Pay-television operator Canal Plus International has acquired rights in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa to the Süper Lig, the top division of Turkish football.
SuperSport picks up Mayweather-McGregor rights
SuperSport, the pay-television broadcaster that operates in sub-Saharan Africa, has acquired rights for next month’s clash between boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr and mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor.
Canal Plus launches new sports channel in Africa
Pay-television operator Canal Plus International has launched a new sports channel in Africa.