Radebe launches show on new Africa Sports Channel
A new player has entered the sports content market with the launch on Friday of the Africa Sports Channel, the continent’s first subscription sports on-demand audio platform.
ASC, a joint venture between Arena Holdings and Bassfin Content Inc, will provide consumers across SA and the rest of the African continent with exclusive live and on-demand audio sports content including the English Premier League (EPL) on their mobile devices in partnership with the world’s biggest sports radio station, talkSPORT,
ASC subscribers in SA will be able to listen to official live match commentaries of all their teams’ games.
“Our investment in Africa Sports Channel is a step into a future where consumers will increasingly consume their sports content on their mobile devices and on multiple platforms and is in line with our ambitions to play an increasingly influential role in the African media landscape,” said Arena Holdings and Lebashe chair, Tshepo Mahloele.
ASC has acquired audio rights to the EPL, and starting this weekend, will deliver all 380 games of the world’s biggest league live — featuring Africa’s biggest stars — and with expert analysis from the likes of Trevor Sinclair, Darren Bent, Stuart Pearce and Ally McCoist.
ASC kicked off with a bang on africasportschannel.com with the launch of an exclusive new show, The Chief, which will see former Bafana
Bafana, Kaizer Chiefs and Leeds United legend Lucas Radebe bringing his EPL insights to football fans every Friday, following Leeds’ return to the English top flight after 16 years.
Radebe previewed Leeds United’s mouth-watering opening EPL fixture away at Anfield against defending English Premiership champions, Liverpool.
“I am really excited that we will be sharing with the fans the story of the return of Leeds United to the EPL on the Africa Sports Channel.
“I am looking forward to following the Leeds season step by step on the show and seeing how another dramatic EPL campaign will unfold.”
Selected ASC content will also be available on Arena’s digital platforms, including TimesLIVE, SowetanLIVE, Sunday Times, Business Day and Financial Mail title sites in the Arena stable.
ASC will tap into the wealth of sporting knowledge and expertise and will feature topical podcasts from many of the group’s wellknown sportswriters.
London-based South African CNN journalist Zayn Nabbi’s On the Whistle podcast will also make its debut on the channel this week, with an interview with charismatic former Liverpool and Zimbabwe goalkeeping legend, Bruce Grobbelaar.
ASC is also in advanced discussions with mobile networks and content rights holders to aggregate quality African sports content.