SuperSport TV loses AFCON broadcast rights
SuperSport TV, owned by Multichoice, has announced that it will not be broadcasting the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to take place in Ivory Coast from January to February.
The decision comes after SuperSport lost the bid for broadcast rights to a Togo-based broadcaster.
Despite being a reliable broadcaster of African competitions, SuperSport has recently shown less interest in displaying Confederation of African Football (CAF) competitions.
Multichoice released a statement on January 3, revealing their failure to secure the rights to air the continental spectacle.
CAF awarded the broadcasting rights to Togo’s New World TV, describing the agreement as a “mega deal” that no other broadcaster could match.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe expressed pride in partnering with New World TV, emphasizing its global competitiveness and innovative approach to meeting the changing demands and viewing patterns of the modern football audience.
“The Media Rights Agreement with New World TV is the biggest investment by a Pan-African broadcaster in CAF’s history,” Motsepe stated.
He also commended New World TV for introducing new ways of consuming video content through partnerships with various mobile operators and television networks.
The 2023 AFCON is set to kick off on January 13, with hosts Ivory Coast facing Guinea-Bissau in the opening match.
Notable encounters include Egypt vs. Ghana on January 18 and a clash between defending champions Senegal and Cameroon on January 19.
The loss of broadcast rights by SuperSport marks a shift in the landscape of African football coverage.
