Africa

Egyptian Television Network, the state-run broadcaster in Egypt, has acquired rights for the upcoming 2013-14 season of the country’s top-tier football Premier League.

Pay-television operator OSN has agreed a carriage deal for combat sports pay-television channel Fight Network in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

South African public-service broadcaster the SABC has appointed Bessie Tugwana as its acting head of sport.

Lagardère Unlimited, the sports marketing division of media conglomerate Lagardère, has announced that Shaila-Ann Rao is leaving her role as the chief executive of the Sportfive International agency.

The Optima Sports Management International agency has announced its acquisition of free-to-air rights in Nigeria to the 2014 World Cup in a deal with Fifa, world football’s governing body.

The Fox International Channels broadcast subsidiary of media company 21st Century Fox has appointed Kelly Butler as senior vice-president of pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports in Europe and Africa, according to the Broadband TV News website.

SuperSport grabs all Champions League rights to check the growth of StarTimes in Africa

BT pays massive Champions League premium to seize ground from Sky in the UK pay-television market, but even bigger battles lie ahead.

Pay-television sports broadcaster SuperSport, which operates in sub-Saharan Africa, has launched a new 24-hour cricket channel.

The CAA Eleven agency has launched invitations to tender for the media rights in the Middle East, North Africa and Northern Sub-Saharan Africa region to European qualifiers for the Uefa Euro 2016 and 2018 Fifa World Cup national team football tournaments.

South African public-service broadcaster the SABC has agreed a deal with the Cricket South Africa governing body to provide live coverage of all national team matches during the forthcoming 2013-14 home international season.

Pay-television broadcaster SuperSport has renewed and expanded a rights deal for the Uefa Champions League and Europa League club football competitions covering sub-Saharan Africa.

Pay-television broadcaster Al Jazeera has threatened to sue the state broadcasters of Algeria and Egypt, ENTV and Egyptian Television Network, after they showed this week’s 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers featuring the two countries.

Sportfive International and IEC in Sports, two of media group Lagardère Unlimited’s most prominent sports marketing agencies, have united to form a dedicated media and production hub for activity across Europe and Africa.

The Fox International Channels broadcast subsidiary of US media company 21st Century Fox has agreed a rights deal with European club competition Euroleague Basketball for markets throughout Europe and Africa.

South African public-service broadcaster SABC has agreed a partnership with telecommunications company Telkom under which the two parties will join forces in efforts to acquire sports rights, according to the Channel24 website.