Pay-television broadcasters Canal Plus Afrique and Kwesé Sports have been awarded media rights to Ligue 1, the top division of French club football, in sub-Saharan Africa, TV Sports Markets understands.
Canal Plus Afrique has acquired French-language rights across the region, while Kwesé Sports has bought English- and Portuguese-language rights. Both deals will run for six seasons, from 2018-19 to 2023-24.
The rights were sold by beIN Media Group, which holds Ligue 1 international rights over the same six seasons in a deal worth a minimum of €80m ($96m) per season.
In the current three-season cycle, from 2015-16 to 2017-18, French-language rights are held by Canal Plus while English- and Portuguese-language rights are held by pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports.
The new deals with Canal Plus and Kwesé Sports include rights to other properties operated by the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the French football league. As well as top-tier Ligue 1 rights, the deals will include rights to: the second-tier Ligue 2; the Coupe de la Ligue; and the Trophée des Champions.
BeIN is also in the process of selling Ligue 1 rights in Brazil, Latin America and the US. A tender was issued late last year with bids due by the close of play this Thursday, January 11.