The Infront Sports & Media and TV Media Sport agencies have agreed a host of broadcast deals in sub-Saharan Africa for this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Infront is the International Olympic Committee’s exclusive media rights partner across 43 countries and territories in sub-Saharan Africa. With the aid of TVMS, Infront has struck rights agreements in eight new territories.
Nigerian public-service broadcaster NTA, privately-held broadcaster AIT and the Silverbird and HipTV services have secured Rio 2016 rights in the country through Infront’s agreement with the Nigerian Olympic Committee.
KBC and TPA, national broadcasters in Kenya and Angola respectively, have also agreed rights deals. RTNB in Burundi; Tele Congo in Republic of the Congo; RTI in Cote d’Ivoire; the Excaf Group in Gambia and Senegal; TVM in Mozambique and SBC in the Seychelles complete the list of broadcasters to have struck agreements with Infront and TVMS.
The agencies had already agreed deals with Azam Media in Tanzania and pan-regional broadcaster TV 5 Monde.
Each agreement grants broadcasters extensive free-to-air coverage of live and delayed action from Rio 2016 across terrestrial, satellite and cable-television platforms, as well as, on a non-exclusive basis, internet and mobile. The coverage will feature the opening and closing ceremonies and at least six hours of programming each day.
“These new agreements cover the most populated countries in sub-Saharan Africa and are an important pillar in our media rights distribution strategy to increase exposure for Rio 2016 on the continent,” Stephan Herth, executive director of summer sports at Infront, said. “Together with the IOC, we are well on our way to boosting the globally integrative character of the Olympic movement and we look forward to concluding more agreements in the near future.”
The coverage in sub-Saharan Africa will be tailored for the local audience, with features on African athletes complementing live coverage and news programmes. Commentary will be provided in English, French and Portuguese.
This summer's Games will take place from August 5-21.