Nigerians May Pay More To Watch AFCON Matches

…DSTV, Startimes Missing In CAF’s TV-Broadcast Agreement List

DSTV and its closest rival in Nigeria’s pay TV broadcast ecosystem did not make the final cut in Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) list of broadcast partners for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (“AFCON”) Côte d’Ivoire 2023. (See List below)

This, by implication mean that signals coming to Nigeria through either or other television stations come as a result of an agreement with the principal partners.

Other implication might mean that Nigeria may pay more.

DSTV, preferred sports broadcast channel for most soccer loving Nigerians recently made an about turn from earlier decision to beam the AFCON matches when, according to market sources, Startimes subscriptions shot-up.

Open bar and match viewing centers, accounting for almost 45 per cent of where Nigerians watch Premier and other European Leagues, began making switches to startimes.

CAF, on Wednesday had announced the conclusion of extensive global broadcast agreements with TV-Broadcasting Rights Holders from Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, North America and the Caribbean ahead of the kick-off of the

The tournament on Saturday 13 January 2024.

The global TV-Broadcast partners include Sky (United Kingdom), BBC (United Kingdom), LaLiga+ (Spain), SportItalia (Italy), Sport Digital (Germany & Switzerland), SportTV (Portugal), Viaplay (Nordics) and Band TV (Brazil).

beIN Sport, CANAL+, New World TV and approximately 45 Free To Air broadcasters have also concluded partnership agreements with CAF and this will result in the TotalEnergies AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 being broadcast in approximately 180 countries, according to the continental football ruling body.

CAF says that it received approximately 6000 Media applications for accreditation to the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 which is an increase of more than 100% from the previous AFCON which took place in Cameroon in 2022.

By the body’s calculation, the significant increase in financial investment by TV-Broadcasting Rights Holders from Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, North America and the Caribbean will result in a substantial global increase in viewership of the TotalEnergies AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023.

CAF’s Broadcasting revenues will also increase significantly and this will assist with the development and growth of football in Africa.

See List the global TV-broadcast agreements that CAF has concluded :

1. SKY (UK)
2. BBC (UK)
3. BBC Radio (Africa)
4. Band TV (Brazil)
5. La Liga+ (Spain)
6. Ziggo (Netherlands)
7. Viaplay (Nordics)
8. Sport Digital (Germany & Switzerland)
9. Sport Klub (Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia)
10. SportItalia (Italy)
11. SportTV (Portugal)
12. Fancode (India)
13. Saran (Turkey)
14. Sport 5 (Israel)
15. A1 (Bulgaria)
16. Art Motion (Kosovo)
17. JOYN PLUS 24 (Austria)
18. Megogo (Ukraine, Poland and Kazakhstan)
19. RFi (France)
20. RMC radio (France)
21. Silknet (Georgia)

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