Econet secures F1 rights for Kwesé Sports

Telco Econet, which operates in sub-Saharan Africa, has acquired rights for the Formula One motor-racing world championship.

The three-and-a-half-year deal covers the remainder of the 2016 season and the 2017, 2018 and 2019 campaigns. Coverage will be provided on a same-day delayed basis.

The coverage will be exploited via Econet’s free-to-air platform, Kwesé Free Sports. Econet has acquired English-language rights across sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa.

Econet’s coverage of the championship began with last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, which was won by Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg.

Econet’s growing portfolio of sports rights also includes football’s English Premier League, the NFL American football league and the NBA basketball league.