Econet Media’s pan-African media company, Kwesé, has acquired a “significant stake” in the African division of online streaming service iflix under a deal it says will drive its go-to-market mobile delivery in each of its territories.
Kwesé operates sports broadcaster Kwesé Sports, while iflix made a significant move in the sports rights market last month through a deal with Football Malaysia, the organising body of club football competition in the country.
Iflix Africa will now form part of Kwesé’s broadcast offering, as the core vehicle to deliver mobile experiences to millions of viewers in Africa. Iflix has already established operations in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa.
Econet Group founder and executive chairman, Strive Masiyiwa, said: “Our companies share a mutual passion for innovation, along with a deep understanding of the culture and evolution of digital businesses. Mobility in content consumption has grown exponentially in Africa and by partnering with iflix Africa we are ensuring that we are not only taking part in the evolution, but are leading the movement.”
Iflix Group co-founder and chief executive, Mark Britt, added: “The strengthening of our relationship with the Econet Group is a huge milestone for iflix. Following the initial phase of building our business in Africa, we have seen tremendous growth across our operating markets, far exceeding our expectations. Econet's deep experience and success in media and telecoms, will be a huge advantage and enable us to continue to grow rapidly.”
Earlier this month, the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the French football league, confirmed rights deals in sub-Saharan Africa with Kwesé Sports and pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus Afrique.
The agreements concerned rights to Ligue 1, the top division of French football, across the six seasons spanning 2018-19 to 2023-24. Canal Plus Afrique acquired French-language rights across the region, while Kwesé Sports has bought English- and Portuguese-language rights.
Meanwhile, iflix last month agreed a landmark rights deal with Football Malaysia. Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but the Goal.com website said it will run for 10 years, from 2018 to 2027, and is worth RM300m (€62.34m/$76.28m).
A new Football Malaysia on iflix channel will deliver action from the entire professional football season, including 22 rounds with six matches weekly for the top-tier Liga Super, 74 matches from knockout competitions the Piala FA and Piala Malaysia, as well as select second-tier Liga Premier matches and the Piala Sumbangsih match, the annual curtain-raiser to the season.