Sub-Saharan Africa

UK-based media company Ginx TV has expanded the reach of its esports channel into sub-Saharan Africa after securing a carriage deal with pay-television broadcaster SuperSport.

SuperSport’s latest deal for French Open media rights in sub-Saharan Africa has illustrated the lack of competition for tennis rights in the region, despite the entrance of new players.

SuperSport, the pay-television broadcaster that operates in sub-Saharan Africa, has acquired rights for the Laver Cup tennis event.

South African public-service broadcaster SABC has hit out at the growing cost of sports rights after failing to agree a deal for the national cricket team’s tour of New Zealand.

The stream of top-tier properties to be sold in sub-Saharan Africa later this year is making life difficult for the IMG and Pitch International agencies, each of which has English cup competitions for sale.

Canal Plus Afrique has agreed a direct deal for rights to the 2018 Fifa World Cup, staving off the challenge of rival StarTimes.

Nigerian broadcaster Arewa24 has launched a new sports division.

Pan-African pay-television operator StarTimes has agreed a two-season deal for rights to Twenty20 cricket competition the Pakistan Super League.

Econet Media chief executive Joseph Hundah has told TV Sports Markets its Kwesé TV pay-television operation must make money quickly on the back of launches in Ghana, Rwanda and Zambia, after 18 months of acquiring sports rights at a considerable cost.

South African mixed martial arts promotion the Extreme Fighting Championship will have its events shown live on public-service broadcaster the SABC for the next two years, increasing its exposure in its home market.

Interview with Joseph Hundah, chief executive, Econet Media, on the launch of Kwesé TV, Kwesé Free Sports and the challenges that lie ahead.

Telecommunications firm Econet Media has extended its Kwesé TV brand through launching a new direct-to-home platform in three African markets.

SuperSport, the pay-television broadcaster that operates in sub-Saharan Africa, has agreed a four-year extension to its rights deal for tennis grand slam the French Open.

South African public-service broadcaster SABC has agreed a multi-year rights deal with the Extreme Fighting Championship mixed martial arts series.

Kwesé Sports and SuperSport will share pay-television rights to the 2018 Fifa World Cup in sub-Saharan Africa after both broadcasters agreed to acquire the rights non-exclusively outside South Africa, TV Sports Markets understands.

Telecommunications company Econet has confirmed the appointment of Jeroen Oerlemans as the new chief executive of the Kwesé Sports division of African pay-television broadcaster Kwesé TV.

Telco Econet Media has launched its Kwesé Free Sports free-to-air channel in Nigeria and Uganda.

Media365 has been appointed by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to produce coverage of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations national team football tournament.