SABC to the rescue as public broadcaster gets Afcon rights

The South Africa Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has secured the rights to broadcast the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) match in Ivory Coast.

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There have been worries that South Africans wouldn’t find a way to watch the continental competitors after SuperrSport failed to purchase the rights, however the public broadcaster has come to the rescue of soccer lovers by buying them.

In a press release, the SABC confirmed the acquisition of the rights to host the Afcon as properly as the remainder of the dwell Caf matches this season.

“The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 broadcasting rights and the rest of the events for the 2024 season,” learn the assertion.

“TotalEnergies Afcon 2023 is a extremely anticipated sports activities spectacle that can happen in Ivory Coast from 13 January 2024 till 11 February 2024 and will likely be solely obtainable on the SABC channels throughout all broadcasting platforms in South Africa.

“With the native PSL season taking a break for the subsequent six (6) weeks, SABC Sport will likely be providing its audiences and business companions the dwell expertise of all the 52 matches of AFCON 2023, through which the South African nationwide staff, Bafana Bafana may also be collaborating.

Furthermore, the SABC added that South Africans will take pleasure in watching extra dwell soccer matches organised by Caf on the public broadcaster, together with the Caf Women’s Champions League the place Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies staff will likely be wanting to defend their trophy.

“In addition, SABC Sport has also acquired the live matches to the rest of the Caf events, which includes all 150 matches of the Afcon 2025 qualifiers, all the 32matches of Caf Chan 2024, all matches of Caf Champions League 2023/24, all matches of Caf Confederations Cup 2023/24, all the matches of Caf Africa Women Cup of Nations 2024, all matches of Caf Women’s Champions League 2024 and all the matches of Caf Super Cup 2024,” the assertion continued.  

“These acquisitions put the soccer lovers and business companions in the place to expertise the world’s greatest soccer occasions solely on SABCchannels, making this nice content material obtainable to all South Africans with noncompetitive platform blockages.

“Each match will likely be delivered with a studio build-up and wrap comprising of the skilled evaluation from the main on-air expertise of SABC Sport. In its promise of constructing all world-class occasions being obtainable to all South Africans with no barrier or price to entry, the SABC will broadcast all the Afcon 2023 matches dwell on SABC1, SABC 3, SABC Sport Channel, and SABC Radio stations, Radio 2000, RSG, UmhloboWenene FM, Ukhozi FM, Lesedi FM, Motsweding FM, Thobela FM, Phalaphala FM, Munghana Lonene FM, Ikwekwezi FM, Ligwalagwala FM and TRUFM in the language of alternative to audiences.

“SABC Plusand sabcsport.com will offer free live streaming of all 52 games, while also offering a free catch-up service for those that may have missed the live action. SABC Sport social pages on Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter)will offer audiences live commentary of every single unmissable moment every single one of the 52 live matches of AFCON 2023.”

SABC’s Chief Operations Officer, lan Plaatjes stated: “The SABC staff is joyful to have made all these nice sports activities actions obtainable to the South African public and would really like to specific its gratitude to the rights holders, New World Media and all the related stakeholders who labored tirelessly to guarantee the fruition of this course of. We would additionally like to want Bafana Bafana all the finest for the competitors in Ivory Coast.

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“The leadership of Dr Patrice Motsepe, the CAF President, has ushered a turnaround in the Organisation making the Africa Cup of Nations one of the most sought-after property globally. SABC Sport joins a number of international broadcasters who will show the games.”