In a surprising twist of events, South African broadcasting giant DStv has reversed its decision not to broadcast the highly anticipated African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
The company, through its SuperSport channels, announced on Wednesday that it had secured the broadcasting rights and will air all 52 matches of the AFCON 2023, despite last week’s declaration that it had failed to obtain the necessary rights.
“No gree for anybody! Watch all 52 matches of the #afcon2023 on @supersports,” the company declared in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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??No gree for anybody!
Watch all 52 matches of the #afcon2023 on @supersports #Afcon #DStvnigeria #supereagles pic.twitter.com/j7PyQEVJOF
— DStv Nigeria (@DStvNg) January 10, 2024
This announcement came as a welcome relief to football fans, particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa, who were left disheartened by the initial news of DStv’s inability to broadcast the 34th AFCON.
DStv’s abrupt change of stance occurred just days before the tournament’s kickoff, with less than 72 hours remaining before the opening match. The eleventh-hour deal reflects the company’s dedication to providing fans with access to the football spectacle that unites the continent.
However, the initial blackout scare was part of a broader shift in the African football broadcasting industry. Togolese broadcaster New World TV recently secured exclusive broadcasting rights for all Confederation of African Football (CAF) competitions in the Sub-Saharan Africa region. This included the 2023 and 2025 AFCON tournaments, leading to an unexpected blackout on DStv for Nigerian viewers.
This development marked a significant departure from the status quo, ousting previous rights holders like SuperSport International and Canal Plus from the scene. The three-year deal between New World TV and CAF covers an impressive 13 competitions, spanning 46 countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.
Moreover, the groundbreaking agreement mandates that free-to-air stations within these nations acquire broadcasting rights through sublicensing facilitated by New World TV. This transformative approach seeks to democratize access to football content, ensuring a broader audience can partake in the excitement of CAF competitions beyond the AFCON tournaments.
CAF announced last week, a substantial 40% increase in prize money for the tournament. This move is set to boost the financial rewards for participating teams and further intensify the competition among the continent’s football powerhouses.
Despite the initial disruption caused by the exclusivity shake-up, DStv’s late deal ensures it now stands alongside StarTimes, NTA, AfroSport, and other networks that will broadcast matches from the biggest football showpiece in Africa.
However, the abrupt change in DStv’s stance raises questions about the intricacies of negotiations between the broadcasting giant and CAF. The sudden reversal, while bringing relief to football fans, underlines the complexities involved in securing broadcasting rights for premier football competitions.