Rising resentment over MultiChoice’s failure to secure Afcon broadcast rights
THE failure by MultiChoice, the parent company of DStv, to secure the broadcasting rights for the continent's biggest footballing event – the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) – will leave millions of fans in the dark when the action kicks off next Saturday.
DStv provides television channels to subscribers across 50 African countries, mainly in South Africa, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Collectively, DStv has just over 20 million viewers on the continent.
When MultiChoice made the announcement that it would not be broadcasting the tournament, which includes teams from 24 nations, it did not say that it had been outbid by the Togo-based satellite broadcaster, New World TV.
It is a puzzle as to how MultiChoice can outbid several top-flight companies to secure broadcasting rights for Uefa (the Union of European Football Associations) events – which are far more expensive – yet fail its African customers when it matters most with their premier continental showpiece.
DStv offers generous coverage of the Uefa European Championship, Uefa Nations League, Uefa Champions League, Uefa Europa League, Uefa Europa Conference League and the Uefa Super Cup.
It would seem DStv is not as keen on African tournaments, which is why there are no TV broadcasts of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), Africa Nations Championship (CHAN), CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup, CAF Super Cup and the African Football League (AFL).
Uefa broadcasting rights are far more expensive than those of (debatable though) CAF events, and many are wondering why MultiChoice is not prepared to spend as much money to secure broadcasting rights for CAF's premier events.
Since the MultiChoice announcement, there's been rising resentment, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, as reflected on social media. It will not come as a surprise if MultiChoice revisits the matter.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe explained that Togo's New World TV offered a mega deal that no other broadcaster could match. He said it was the biggest investment by a Pan-African broadcaster in CAF's history.
Nimonka Kolani, the managing director of New World TV Group, said his company was paying special attention to ensuring that all Africans could access their competitions at an affordable price.
Kolani said he was delighted for the opportunity to be the gatekeeper of CAF rights.