StarTimes

The wave of tender processes in sub-Saharan Africa has continued to swell with the English Premier League and the International Olympic Committee both selling their rights earlier than expected.

Top-tier football leagues in Cameroon and Zimbabwe are set to agree lucrative new pay-television deals, TV Sports Markets understands. But while the fortunes of some African leagues are improving, others have begun to struggle after recent optimism.

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.

Fifa and Uefa are set for huge increases in the value of their media rights in sub-Saharan Africa. TV Sports Markets understands bidding in both governing bodies’ tender processes has progressed beyond a first round.

The Ghana Football Association has sealed a 10-season deal with StarTimes under which it will earn almost $1.8m (€1.7m) per season for all its domestic football media rights.

This month’s deals for South American football rights followed a trend in the sub-Saharan African sports rights market in 2016 – Kwesé Sports and StarTimes acquired second-tier properties, Fox Sports were outbid and SuperSport let go of a poorly-performing property.

England’s Premier League is understood to be prioritising reach and distribution over revenue in the sale of its free-to-air rights in sub-Saharan Africa.

Pay-television broadcaster StarTimes has paid what is considered to be a high fee to secure rights to the Coppa Italia in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Football Kenya Federation has threatened to cancel its advisory deal with MP & Silva, the latest event in the ongoing dispute between the two parties.

France’s Ligue 1 has earned an increase of 20 to 25 per cent in the value of its media rights in sub-Saharan Africa following deals agreed in recent weeks.

Football rights fees across sub-Saharan Africa continued their rapid growth this month, with big increases paid for three of Europe’s major football leagues.

StarTimes is seeking to renegotiate its deal with the Football Kenya Federation days after a ‘war’ with pay-television rival SuperSport at Kenya’s Nyayo National Stadium.

StarTimes secured exclusive rights in sub-Saharan Africa to four Fifa tournaments late last month in an attempt to build new relationships and expand its football coverage.

Pan-African pay-television operator StarTimes has confirmed a long-term rights deal for the Bundesliga, the top division of football in Germany.

Pan-African pay-television operator StarTimes has acquired rights covering a number of tournaments operated by Fifa, football’s global governing body.