SuperSport Won't Broadcast 2023 AFCON After CAF Snub

By Adedapo Adesanya

Africa’s leading sports broadcaster, SuperSport Channel, has announced that it would not broadcast the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 scheduled for January 13 through February 11, 2024.

In a statement seen by Business Post on Wednesday, Multichoice, the parent company of DSTV, Africa’s largest Pay TV outlet, said this is “because the channel has not secured the rights to broadcast the tournament.”

This newspaper reports that the hosting rights were granted to Togolese broadcaster, New World TV, by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the region’s footballing authority on December 3, 2023. This followed a highly competitive tender process, a statement from CAF said.

New World TV was granted CAF’s Free to Air and Pay-TV English and Local Languages Media Rights for Sub-Saharan territories for CAF Competitions and Events from 2023-2025.

The news was met with heartbreak from fans across the continent who had been expecting that the tournament would be aired on DStv.

SuperSport added, “However, AFCON 2023 games will be available through our partner broadcast stations on Free to Air (FTA) channels.”

It affirmed its commitment to ensuring football fans across Africa continue to enjoy unrivalled access to entertainment and football games available on DStv and GOtv platforms including, the Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Zambian Super League, and many more of football’s most prestigious competitions.

New World TV, which was founded in 2015, had previously acquired major sporting rights including pay-TV rights across Sub-Saharan Africa for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

Speaking on the rights, CAF President, Mr Patrice Motsepe regarded the Media Rights Agreement, whose value was not disclosed, with New World TV as the biggest investment by a Pan-African broadcaster in CAF’s history.

“We are very proud to partner with such a globally competitive and innovative broadcasting company which has adapted quickly to the changing demands and viewing patterns of the modern football audience. New World TV is also introducing new ways of consuming video content through its strong partnerships with various mobile operators and its television networks.”

On his part, Mr Nimonka Kolani, Managing Director of New World TV Group said, “New World TV pays special attention to ensuring that all Africans can access their competitions at an affordable price. We are delighted that CAF trusts us and this opportunity given to us to be the gatekeeper of their rights will allow us to strengthen the relationship with the public through these unique moments of events organized by CAF whose attractiveness is becoming more and more important.”