Most football lovers in Africa received a shocking news from Multichoice after the organisation confirmed that DSTV will not cover AFCON 2023 as they have done for previous editions of the tournament.
The body confirmed the news to its customers in a statement on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 with just ten days left to the start of the tournament which will be hosted in Ivory Coast. According to the organisation the reason they are not showing the competition is because they lost to the Television rights to another company.
Why will DSTV not show AFCON 2023?
A Togo-based broadcast company, New World TV secured the exclusive rights to cover both AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast and 2025 in Morocco.
The body governing football in Africa also confirmed that they had “concluded a historic Media Rights Agreement with Pan-African broadcaster New World TV for 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.”
What did CAF President say on the broadcasting rights?
The President of CAF, Patrice Motsepe, confirmed the television rights in a statement which was released on the body official website.
He said,
“The Media Rights Agreement with New World TV is 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.”
Where to watch AFCON 2023?
The owners of the exclusive rights, New World TV will sub-license other broadcasters to make it available on free-to-air stations in other African countries. The broadcast of the competition will be unique to each nation and this is expected to be made known before the tournament kicks off.